Arizona Arthritis Center at
The University of Arizona College of Medicine
Director: Salvatore Albani, MD, PhD
Since the 1970s, the Arizona Arthritis Center at The University of Arizona
College of
Medicine has been a research leader with a focus on identifying the causes
of arthritis and
developing improved technologies for diagnosing, measuring and treating the
disease.
Some of the groundbreaking research underway includes:
- Studying immune modulation, a vaccine-like method to re-educate the body so that it no longer sees the rheumatoid arthritis inflammation trigger as an invader. Research studies are under way for both juvenile arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in adults.
- Using cells from fat to resurface degenerated joints with healthy cells and tissues to help make joint replacements obsolete.
- Understanding the pathways leading to autoimmune disease, especially the role of human endogenous retroviruses.
- Studying good relationships and their impact on the health of those with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Researching the risks of infections, particularly valley fever, on patients with rheumatic diseases.
- Examining the effect of exercise and education in the treatment of early osteoarthritis of the knee.
- Investigating electronic-capture systems for patient outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis.
- Studying the effectiveness of expanded osteoporosis screening and treatment in rural, economically challenged populations of women in Arizona.
AAC Director: Salvatore Albani, MD, PhD, professor of Medicine and Pediatrics,
Stephen's chair and director, Arizona Arthritis Center
Arthritis Facts
A disease that takes more than 100 forms, arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States. More than a third of the 46 million Americans who have arthritis experience limited activity because of their conditions, which may mean they have difficulty with everyday tasks, such as holding a spoon or tying a shoelace. Arthritis is not limited to the elderly. More than half of those diagnosed are under age 65, and 6,000 people in Arizona have juvenile arthritis, with 1,600 of these under age 18. By the year 2030, nearly 67 million U.S. adults (25 percent) will have been diagnosed with arthritis. The number of U.S. adults with arthritis-related disabilities is expected to increase from 16.9 million to 25