Meet the clinical team

The Scleroderma Clinical Team consists of faculty members in the Section of Rheumatology and specialists in Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Orthopedics (hand specialists) Cardiology, Pulmonary, Oral Health, and Nutrition. The Scleroderma Center and Clinical Team is recognized internationally as a leader in scleroderma research and treatment. Their research consists of treatment and prevention through industry-sponsored clinical trials and translational and basic research with funding support from the National Institute of Health.

The Scleroderma Center is part of the Scleroderma Lung Study (SLS), a collaboration of 14 clinical scleroderma centres in the US whose mission is to provide SSc patients with state-of-the-art patient care and opportunities to participate in therapeutic research.

To make an appointment with our specialists, please call 617-358-3839.

 

Dr. Michael YorkMichael York, MD: Our group is currently investigating the role of the innate immune system on the development of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). This disease is characterized by thick skin and scarring of internal organs such as the lungs as well as vascular problems such as Raynaud’s phenomenon, pulmonary hypertension and gangrene. We are trying to determine how the immune system causes these problems and develop new therapeutics to treat this disease. We are currently focusing on how dysfunction of the patient’s immune system occurs and how this leads to vascular and fibrotic disease. We are focusing on receptors of the innate immune system called toll-like receptors that typically recognize viral or bacterial DNA or RNA. Recently it has been found that immune complexes found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or scleroderma can trigger these receptors by allowing self-DNA or RNA to enter cells, thereby overcoming some of the protective mechanisms preventing the host from developing an immune response against itself.

Dr. Andreea BujorAndreea M Bujor, MD, PhD: Dr. Bujor is an Associate Professor at Boston University Medical Center. She is a clinical rheumatologist and a physician scientist with advanced training in scleroderma. Dr. Bujor is the supervising attending physician for the first year rheumatology fellows during their continuity clinic, and is actively engaged in the didactic core curriculum experience. In addition to teaching summer lecture series and the weekly board reviews, she also mentors fellows in scholarly activities through her basic and translational research laboratory. Her research in scleroderma myeloid dysfunction and fibrosis has been recognized as outstanding by the Rheumatology Research Foundation, receiving the Investigator Award with Malawista designation in 2020. Additionally, she has received the American Heart Association Career Development Award in 2020, and the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium Travel award in 2019 with her project in scleroderma cardiomyopathy.

Marcin Trojanowski, MD: Dr. Trojanowski is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine in Rheumatology at Boston University School of Medicine. He has a decade of experience in treatment of systemic sclerosis as well as a passion for medical teaching. Prior to his arrival at BUMC, Dr. Trojanowski was the head of the Scleroderma Clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he was the primary referral in the region. In this role he carved out a regional role in both systemic sclerosis as well as CTD-ILD. At BUMC, he has overseen an ever-expanding role within the scleroderma clinic. He also serves as the Clinical Director of the Division of Rheumatology. Dr. Trojanowski has worked on many translational and epidemiological research studies such as the Genome Research in African American Scleroderma Patients (GRASP). He has participated in directly sponsored pharmaceutical research as the principle and sub investigator of dozens of drug trials in systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus and more recently COVID-19. In education, Dr. Trojanowski excelled at UAB as a top ten teacher in the Department of Medicine as well as a leading teacher in the Section of Rheumatology. He was a member of the Strategic Committee on Education at UAB Department of Medicine. At Boston University, Dr. Trojanowski is the Director of the rheumatology musculoskeletal module for second-year medical students and has developed a multidisciplinary problem-based learning module for first-year students. Chief Clinical Interests: Systemic Sclerosis, Connective Tissue Diseases, and Lung Disease in Connective Tissue Disease.

Current Scleroderma Clinical Trials:

Please talk to your doctor at BMC if you are interested in any trial.

CONQUEST:

The CONQUEST study evaluates 2 investigational medicines for interstitial lung disease associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc-ILD) using 1 study plan, called the master study protocol. Each investigational medicine has its own “subprotocol” with details that only apply to the study group. You will be randomly assigned to one of the 2 subprotocols.

Who can join the study?

Candidates with the following criteria may be able to join the study:

  • Adults ages 18 or older
  • SSc-ILD diagnosis
  • SSc symptoms that began within the past 5 years
    • This study permits earlier onset of Raynaud’s disease

click here for more info:  patient brochure CONQUEST

ATHENA:

A research study testing the effectiveness and safety of a potential new drug (PRA023) in adults with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) associated with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD).

We invite participants for a placebo-controlled trial of a new biologic drug, PRA023, in Systemic Sclerosis Associated with Interstitial Lung Disease. The study seeks to understand whether PRA023 can slow or halt lung disease and improve quality of life. The study will also examine the potential benefits of skin involvement and the severity of SSc disease.

Key study requirements are:

  • Adult participants 18 years of age or older
  • Diagnosis of the diffuse form of scleroderma within 5 years
  • Interstitial lung disease, a common form of lung disease associated with inflammation and scarring

For information on enrolling in clinical trials at Boston University, please contact:

Patricia Godio
Sr. Research Administrator Grants and CO
72 E Concord Street, Evans, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02118
pgodio@bu.edu 

For Information Regarding Clinical Affairs, please contact:

Alice Anderson
Academic & Clinical Affairs Manager
72 E Concord Street, Evans, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02118
aanders2@bu.edu