Comprehensive Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Autoimmunity Center
Summary:
The Comprehensive Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Autoimmunity Center (CAMAC) serves
as the focal point for fundamental and clinical research in arthritis, autoimmunity,
and musculoskeletal diseases and is dedicated to generating and applying new knowledge
to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with rheumatic disease. This charge includes
integrating and promoting fundamental research with clinical care, developing and
applying new diagnostics and therapeutics, educating the public about arthritis,
musculoskeletal, and autoimmune diseases, and training future investigators and
health care professionals.
Membership:
The Center’s membership includes over 189 faculty constitute the Center membership
representing 9 schools including SOD, SOE, SHP, SOM, NSM, SON, SOO, SOPH and SSBS,
as well as the Joint Health Sciences.
The UAB CAMAC has a commitment to create an effective multidisciplinary environment
that supports fundamental and clinical research. It is designated as one of the
international Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies’ (FOCIS) “Centers of Excellence”
in addition to being a nationally top-ranked, peer-reviewed recipient of an Autoimmunity
Center of Excellence (ACE) award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Disease (NIAID)/National Institutes on Health (NIH). It hosts both a Multidisciplinary
Clinical Research Center (MCRC) and Rheumatic Disease Core Center (RDCC) funded
by the NIH, which support several lines of established research in addition to innovative
pilot projects. These grants also support several state-of-the-art research core
facilities that facilitate ongoing investigation, including a pain and analgesia
assessment module, methodology, epitope recognition and immunoreagent, analytic
and preparative cytometry, high-resolution imaging, transgenic/gene targeting cores.
The CAMAC also hosts the Program Project in the Genetics of SLE, an international
consortium studying the underlying genetic bases of predisposition and severity
in lupus.
The Center also has an international reputation for its emphasis on patient-oriented
translational research—advancing the use of novel, state-of-the-art diagnostics
and therapeutics. Key to this capability is the Arthritis Clinical Intervention
Program (ACIP) under the direction of Jeffrey Curtis, M.D. Additionally, the establishment
of an Infusion Therapy Center in The Kirklin Clinic has allowed for improved treatment
of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis,
psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and multiple sclerosis
with novel therapeutics.
Partnerships and Collaborations:
The UAB The Comprehensive Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Autoimmunity Center has
a model record of academic and pharmaceutical R&D partnerships. The Treatment of
Early Aggressive Rheumatoid Arthritis study (TEAR) is a multi-center, national,
clinical trial, with support from academia and industry, to identify the most advantageous
timing and combination of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis patients. The continued
operation of the UAB/DAIICHI SANKYO Program for Rheumatic Diseases and Cancer Research
reflects the achievement of the AMC in successfully interfacing fundamental and
clinical investigation to generate productive interdisciplinary translational research.
The UAB CAMAC plays a national role in clinical research and provides the leadership
for multiple national patient databases including: LUMINA, CLEAR, PROFILE and the
WGGER Repository. Additionally, it supports the Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment
Clinic, led by Sarah Morgan, M.D., M.S., which offers treatment and prevention of
osteoporosis through coordinated patient care, professional and lay education, and
clinical bone-related research.
Services:
The UAB CAMAC has the only AHRQ-funded Deep South Musculoskeletal Center for Education
Research in Therapeutics (CERTs) in Musculoskeletal Diseases (DSMC), which aims
to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and impact on health and related quality
of life of therapeutics used in the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. With
the DSMC, the Center’s national reputation helped to establish a partnership with
the Alabama Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation and the State of Alabama Department
of Public Health (ADPH) under aegis of the CDC’s National Arthritis Action Plan
(NAAP). In collaboration with ADPH, the Center for Health Promotion and the UAB
School of Public Health, the CAMAC has developed a statewide surveillance, assessment
and intervention strategy for arthritis. The Center educates practitioners, insurers,
and policy makers, and combines the substantial clinical and health services research
expertise of UAB with consultants and private sector partners. Center faculty also
regularly conduct presentations for senior citizen groups, community organizations,
corporations, and churches throughout Alabama, and participate in broadcasted discussions
(radio, television, and web).
Opportunity for faculty involvement:
The CAMAC-affiliated Training Program in Rheumatic Diseases Research supports several
postdoctoral and predoctoral trainees, most of whom go on to pursue academic and
industry research careers. The UAB CAMAC also fosters a collaborative investigation
climate for faculty with interests in arthritis, musculoskeletal and autoimmune
disease. Faculty participation in a number of fundamental and clinical/translational
research projects, patient registries, and community outreach opportunities is also
available.
Primary Contact Person:
, M.D.
Professor of Medicine
Howard L. Holley Research Chair in Rheumatology
Senior Associate Dean for Research Director
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology
Director, UAB Comprehensive Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Autoimmunity Center
1825 University Boulevard—SHEL 172D
Birmingham, AL 35294-2182
(tel) (205) 934-0245
(fax) (205) 934-1564
Web site: www.uab.edu/amc
Leaders and Key Staff:
- Robert P. Kimberly, M.D., Director
- Jennifer A. Croker, Ph.D., Program Manager
- Judy D. Thomas, Financial Officer