Invited Speakers

Dr. Barraclough is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University Health Network, Toronto, within Dr. Zahi Touma's research team. She obtained her PhD in neurocognitive function in systemic lupus erythematosus from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, in 2016 under the supervision of Professor Ian Bruce. After obtaining her PhD, she has received grants from The Arthritis Society, Lupus Canada, Lupus Foundation of America and Lupus UK. This has enabled her to continue investigating cognitive dysfunction and cognitive fatigue in systemic lupus erythematosus, specifically using functional magnetic resonance imaging and computerized cognitive batteries.

Cindy Blakely is the founder of New Circles, a Toronto based community agency and has been an integral part of the organization since inception in 2005. Cindy has spent more than 40 years in the field of social work. She has focused on child welfare, school social work, bereavement counselling and program development. Cindy has been a sessional lecturer at the University of Toronto’s School of Social Work and has been a field supervisor for Social Work and Divinity students. Cindy is the co-author of three children’s books from The Lookout Safety series. She has held board positions for many not-for-profit organizations and is a past Board member for The Child Development Institute and the Distress Centres of Toronto.

Dr. Duque is a geriatrician and a clinical and biomedical researcher with special interest in the mechanisms and treatment of osteoporosis, sarcopenia and frailty. He is the Chair of Medicine and Director of the Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science at the University of Melbourne and Western Health. He is also President Elect of the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society. Dr. Duque is also the Director of the Fracture Care and Prevention Program at Western Health in Melbourne. As part of this Program, he implemented a Falls and Fracture clinics at Sunshine Hospital where patients are assessed for falls and fractures risk in a comprehensive manner.  Currently, he is looking at the effect of vitamin D, exercise and proteins on bone and muscle mass. He is the author of more than 200 peer reviewed articles and of multiple book chapters.

Dr. Eder is a Clinician-Scientist and Rheumatologist at the Women's College Research Institute and Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto. She has a broad background in rheumatology with specific training and expertise in clinical epidemiology and imaging of psoriatic arthritis and cardiovascular diseases in rheumatic patients. She is the Director of the Psoriatic Arthritis program at Women's College Hospital and Co-Director of the Cardio-Rheumatology Program at the University of Toronto. Dr. Eder was awarded Canada Research Chair in Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases for developing methods to optimize access to rheumatic for all individuals. She also received a New Investigator Award from the Arthritis Society and Early Research Award from the Ontario Ministry of Research Innovation and Science. Her research efforts have resulted in over 140 peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. Ferreira is Principal Research Fellow & NHMRC Investigator at The Kolling Institute, School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney. She holds an NHMRC Investigator Fellowship and leads the clinical back pain research theme at The Kolling Institute, where she oversees a research team on the mechanisms, prognosis and management of back pain. She also co-chairs the Musculoskeletal Priority Research Area of The Kolling Institute. With over 270 scientific publications, and +AUD25M in research funding, she is the 2nd highest ranked researcher in the world for 'low back pain'. She leads multiple randomized controlled trials of musculoskeletal interventions, including the first placebo randomized controlled trial of spinal surgery, an NHMRC-funded study that will establish the efficacy of decompressive surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis.

Dr. FitzGerald is a Consultant Rheumatologist and Newman Clinical Research Professor at St. Vincent’s University Hospital and the Conway Institute, University College Dublin. He has a major interest in clinical and translational research in Psoriatic Arthritis. His most recent studies explore genetic factors and biomarker development. For many years, Dr. FitzGerald has been involved with GRAPPA and recently took up the office of President in July 2021. He has been advocating for grant application opportunities addressing critical unmet needs in Psoriatic Arthritis for several years and this culminated in the award of first, significant, joint EU/industry funded Innovative Medicines Initiative grant in Psoriatic Arthritis, at the HIPPOCRATES consortium. 

Dr. Gensler is a Professor of Medicine at UCSF, the Director of the Spondyloarthritis research program and clinic and the Program Director for the Rheumatology Fellowship Program. She served as the chair of the Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network (SPARTAN) from 2016-2018, and currently serves on the Executive committee for the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS). She has been the recipient of the Ira M. Goldstein Teaching Award in Rheumatology, the Spondylitis Association Young Investigator Award, and the UCSF Research Mentoring Award. She has also been inducted into the Council of Master Clinicians at UCSF.

Dr. Goel is a Patient Research partner in the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) and Outcomes in Rheumatology (OMERACT) as well as a woman of Asian Indian ethnicity. She is also a rheumatologist who is active in academic and industry efforts to develop treatments for the treatment of arthritic and autoimmune conditions. Her academic, industry, and patient research partner roles allow her to participate holistically in research and academic endeavours, including teaching your rheumatology trainees in caring for people with rheumatologist conditions. Also, this allows her to ensure they are not only patient-entered but also address diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Dr. Hudson is a rheumatologist and clinician-scientist at the Jewish General Hospital and Lady Davis Institute, and an Associate Professor and Member of the Division of Experimental Medicine in the Department of Medicine at McGill University. She pursues research in systemic sclerosis and is a founding member of the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group. Her particular research interests include autoantibodies, muscle involvement and cellular therapies for scleroderma. Dr. Hudson is also Co-Director of the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity, which, since 2018, has provided over $30 million in support to over 130 innovative research projects aimed at the prevention, cure, and elimination of major immune threats to human health.

Dr. Hunter is a rheumatologist clinician-researcher whose primary research focus is clinical and translational research in osteoarthritis. He is ranked as the leading expert in the world on osteoarthritis on expertscape.com, is the section editor for UpToDate osteoarthritis, the Editor in Chief for Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, and has over 600 publications in peer-reviewed journals. He is Co-Director of Sydney Musculoskeletal Health and leads the osteoarthritis team at the Kolling Institute who are dedicated to improving our understanding of osteoarthritis and the quality of life for those who suffer from this prevalent disabling disease.

Dr. Jacobsen is a Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. James Iatridis' Lab in the Department of Orthopedics at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. He received his PhD from Columbia University, New York, under supervision of Dr. Nadeen Chahine. His PhD studies focused on intervertebral disc cell mechanobiology where he evaluated the role of inflammatory induced changes to cellular mechanics and cytoskeletal organization in the progression of disc degeneration. His post-doctoral research focuses on inflammatory responses in the onset and progression of acute and chronic discogenic pain and development of anti-inflammatory therapies to limit degeneration and pain.

Dr. Jadon is a Consultant Rheumatologist, Director of Rheumatology Research Unit, and lead for psoriatic arthritis at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHSFT sing 2016. He graduated from the University of Wales College of Medicine in 2003, and then undertook clinical training in rheumatology and general internal medicine in Bath and Bristol between 2007-2015. He completed his PhD thesis on 'biomarkers of psoriatic arthritis phenotypes' at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in 2015. Dr. Jadon has particular expertise in the investigation and management of psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, spondyloarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr. Johnson is a Rheumatologist, Director of the Toronto Scleroderma Program, Clinician-Scientist at the University Health Network and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Internationally, Dr. Johnson has led collaborations between the American College of Rheumatology and the European League Against Rheumatism for the development of classification criteria for systemic sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. She is currently a principal investigator for the American College of Rheumatology guidelines of the screening, monitoring and treatment of interstitial lung disease in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases. With over 200 scientific publications, her work has been published in Nature Review Rheumatology and more.

Dr. Kahlenberg is the Giles G. Boles MD and Dorothy Mulkey MD Research Professor of Rheumatology and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Dermatology at the University of Michigan. She runs her own laboratory and has been an active member of the Immunology Training Program since 2013. Her research laboratory combines translational approaches using patient samples and murine models to uncover the mechanisms that drive lupus and lupus flares. She is focused on unraveling the pathogenic mechanisms in cutaneous lupus, the factors that drive photosensitivity, and how skin inflammation can influence systemic lupus activity. She received recognition from the Arthritis National Research Foundation and more.

Medical resident and Ax.Spa patient initially misdiagnosed. Currently grateful for the treatments that changed his life. His biggest challenge became one of his biggest passions. Moving forward meanings giving back. He is currently actively putting his leadership, medical, and research skills in the service of the CSA in order to raise more awareness and improve the quality of life for patients living with spondyloarthropathies. 

Dr. Kim is an Orthopaedic Surgeon Scientist within the Osteoarthritis Research Program, Division of Orthopedics, Schroeder Arthritis Institute (University Health Network) and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. Dr. Kim's research is focused on combining cell and gene therapies to engineer designer cells that can reduce inflammation and cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis.  

Dr. King is a staff rheumatologist at St.Michael's Hospital, in Toronto, Canada, and an osteoarthritis clinical researcher completing a PhD in Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Toronto. She is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research doctoral award and as a Phillipson Scholar in the Clinician-Scientist Training Program in the Department of Medicine. Her research focuses on better understanding the impact of osteoarthritis in people with other complex chronic conditions and developing ways to improve implementation of evidence-based osteoarthritis care. 

Stafford Lawson is a Principal at Parallax, a premier developer of commercial and residential real estate based in Toronto, Canada. Stafford holds an undergraduate degree from McGill University in Urban Systems and Economics and a Master's of Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University in New York City. He is an avid backcountry skier, mountain biker and traveler. Stafford lives with his wife and two young children in downtown Toronto. 

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Professor Lightstone is a leading academic nephrologist practicing in London. She specializes in lupus nephritis, pre-pregnancy and pregnancy guidance in women with kidney disease, as well as glomerular and chronic kidney disease in general. She has been involved in many research projects & clinical trials, published original research and reviews, pioneered steroid sparing approaches in treating lupus nephritis, established one of the largest obstetric renal clinical in the United Kingdom, & dedicated pre-pregnancy counselling services for women with kidney disease.  She holds senior posts within Imperial College London and serves on the executive councils of major renal charities such as Kidney Research UK & International Society of Nephrology.

Dr. Lohmander is a Senior Professor at Lund University, Sweden. His research focuses on translational and clinical aspects of osteoarthritis. He has served as a Guest Professor at numerous universities such as the University of Iowa and Washington, the University of Sydney, Oxford University, the University of Southern Denmark, and the University of Hong Kong. He is the past editor-in-chief of "Osteoarthritis and Cartilage"and past president of the OARSI. He has received many awards and honours, among them the OARSI Award for Clinical Osteoarthritis Research, ORS Steindler Award, ACR Marshall Schiff Award, Bone and Joint Decade Award for research in osteoarthritis, OARSI Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Cy Frank Legacy Lectureship of the University of Calgary and Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

Dr. Maly is a Professor, University Research Chair, and Director of the Mobilize Clinical Biomechanics Laboratory in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo. Monica holds a Mid-Career STARS Award from The Arthritis Society together with the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis. Her research goals are to promote physical activity among adults with OA and provide strong training experiences for academic and professional students. She uses biomechanical and imaging methods to evaluate the impact of physical activities on joint health, mobility and productivity. This work is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Canadian Foundation for Innovation.

Dr. Meulenbelt is a professor of Molecular Biology of Osteoarthritis at the Department of Biomedical Data Science, Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands. Her group has a strong research focus on finding -omic derived osteoarthritis biomarkers and perform functional research exploiting human 3D in vitro organoid & ex vivo models of joint tissues to obtain a more fundamental molecular understanding of identified osteoarthritis pathway. Herein relevant physiological triggers such as injurious mechanical loading, inflammation, or hypertrophy are used to induce osteoarthritis.

Dr. Nakamura is a Rheumatologist & Research Scientist. He co-discovered two specific molecules that could change the ways of diagnosis and treatment in Spine Osteoarthritis and associated low back pain. His discoveries were published in prestigious journals such as Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases and JCI insight. Through his PhD, he discovered novel immunopathological functions and therapeutic potentials of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in SpA. He has published over 20 peer-reviewed papers. In addition, he is collaborating with Japanese Research Institutes and Hospitals & has been awarded the Japan College of Rheumatology (JCR) Promotion Award. In addition, he has received numerous fellowships and awards.

Dr. Pascual is Director of the Drukier Institute for Children's Health and the Ronay Menschel Professor of Pediatric at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. She is also the Program Director of an NIAID-funded Autoimmune Center of Excellence & NIAMS-funded Center of Research Translation focused on Pediatric Lupus. She is a pediatric rheumatologist interested in basic and translational immunology. Her research focuses on pediatric inflammatory and autoimmune diseases with the goals of translating laboratory findings into the identification of therapeutic targets and useful biomarkers. She has been at the forefront of clinical trials using IL-1 blockers in sJIA, which have shown remarkable clinical benefits in 70% of patients. 

Dr. Radstake has been an executive Director of Immunology Discovery Research at Abbie since early 2021.  Prior to his current role, he led several company critical assets in clinical development in AbbVie. From 2012-2019, he was a professor of Rheumatology and Translational Immunology at the University Medical Center Utrecht where he established the Department of Translational Immunology. From 2016-2019, he was acting principal investigator within the GSK immunology catalyst program. Dr. Radstake has served on numerous international boards including as Chair of Translational Immunology at the European League Against Rheumatology (EULAR) and European Association of Systems Medicines (EASYM).  

Dr. Ravi has a subspecialty practice in total joint arthroplasty. His research is primarily focused on improved outcomes for patients who have undergone total joint replacement and or other orthopaedic procedures. He completed his medical degree, and his orthopaedic surgical training at the University of Toronto. He also completed a subspecialty fellowship in adult reconstruction at the Mayo Clinic (Arizona). During his residency, he obtained a Doctorate in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research from the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. He is a member of the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, and an Associate Scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute.

Dr. Richards is the founder of Five02 Labs Inc., where she manages projects; prepares and writes grant, manuscript, and lay language materials; and helps bring patient and community member perspectives to research and healthcare spaces. Some of her current clients include: the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, Clinical Trials Ontario (as Director of Patient & Public Engagement), and the University Health Network. Her diagnosis with rheumatoid arthritis in 2006 began her journey to combine her passion for science with making the most of her diagnoses. Dr. Richards is also the volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance. 

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Dr. Sequin is a Professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario. She has established an internationally recognized research program focused on intervertebral disc biology and disease. Research led by her group has used transgenic mouse models to investigate progenitor cell types in intervertebral disc development. She received the New Investigator Award from the CIHR and is currently supported by a career Development Award from the CIHR/Arthritis Society. She is also the co-Director of the Collaborative Specialization in Musculoskeletal Health Research at Western.

Dr. Singh is a Rheumatologist and Outcomes Researcher with scientific interests in Quality of Life in patients with arthritis and outcomes in patients with gout, osteoarthritis, joint arthroplasty, and rheumatoid arthritis. He has been studying the quality of life, quality of care, and functional limitation in patients with gout in prospective studies, VA administrative and clinical databases, qualitative research, and cross-sectional surveys. He has also authored 148 peer-reviewed publications (or in press) or book chapters. 

Dr. Thomas is a Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Consultant Rheumatologist at Princess Alexandra Hospital, fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and member of the Order of Australia. She founded the Uniquest spin-off company Dendright. Her research seeks to understand autoimmune disease and restoration of immune tolerance. She developed and tested antigen-specific immunotherapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis, based on dendritic cell and liposome formats in two world first proof-of-concept trials. Her team is partnered with CSL in Sjogren;s syndrome immunotherapy and she is progressing an antigen-specific immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes to clinical trials. 

Dr. Varga is the Chief of Rheumatology at the University of Michigan. For the past 3 decades, his research has focused on fibrosis and the application of precision medicine approaches to improve patient outcomes. His lab, continuously funded by the NIH, investigates immunological and cellular mechanisms of fibrosis. He has served as a charter member of the NIH ACTS Study section and Co-Editor of Arthritis and Rheumatology, and is a member of the ACR Board of Directors. He is the author of over 380 journal articles and book chapters as well as 3 textbooks. Dr. Varga has also mentored over 20 post-doctoral MD and PhD trainees.

Dr. Vincent  completed her PhD at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology & continued as a Wellcome Trust clinician scientist and then as an Arthritis Research UK Senior Fellow at the Institute. In 2012, after the Kennedy Institute was moved to the University of Oxford, she was appointed Professor of Musculoskeletal Biology. She directs the Versus Arthritis-funded Centre for Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis. Her research interests include the molecular pathways that explain how cartilage responds to injury and their role in structural and symptomatic osteoarthritis. She continues to be clinically active, running both the hand osteoarthritis clinics and a multidisciplinary Marfan Syndrome clinic.

Dr. Wolf has been on the faculties of the University of Colorado and the University of Connecticut and was recruited to The University of Chicago in 2016. Her clinical and research interests include gender differences and the impact of hormones on basilar thumb arthritis, atypical nerve compression, lateral epicondylitis, and ballistic upper extremity trauma. She is the Vice Chair for Faculty Development and Diversity in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the University of Chicago, and serve as the hand surgery fellowship Director at the University of Chicago. She has been involved with The Journal of Hand Surgery as an Associate Editor since 2009 and served as Deputy Editor-in-Chief in 2016-2020.