UNC's Thurston Arthritis Research Center Wins Multiple Awards At ACR Meeting

Main Category: Arthritis / Rheumatology
Article Date: 19 Oct 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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The Thurston Arthritis Research Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine garnered numerous research and teaching awards at the recent meeting of the American College of Rheumatology annual scientific conference held Oct. 15-17 in Philadelphia.

Thurston is home to huge data sets from ongoing longitudinal studies, including the Johnston County Arthritis Project, that attract top researchers, and faculty are looking at novel areas, including tai chi and the effects of selenium on arthritis.

To address clinical needs, and facilitate the translation of research to patient care, the center recently opened a new infusion clinic for rheumatology patients and joined a statewide family practice network to extend its reach and amplify its expertise.

"We take our role as the arthritis research center for the people of North Carolina very seriously," says Joanne Jordan, M.D., the center director and Herman and Louise Smith Distinguished Professor of Medicine at UNC's School of Medicine. Jordan received the ACR's Award of Distinction for Excellence in Investigative Mentoring. "That is why we are always looking for ways to bring our research findings to the community and to learn from the community. Additionally, we have placed a high priority on working with medical and graduate students and being open to collaborating,"

Thurston Arthritis Research Center faculty presented their work in 25 sessions at ACR. "This is testament to the fact that UNC is a great place to train," Jordan says. "In the end, we're helping propel the field of arthritis research, which helps patients everywhere."

Others who received ACR awards are:

Lauren Abbate, a third-year medical student at UNC, and Joshua Knight, a second-year UNC medical student, won the Research Education Foundation's Abbott Medical Student Research Preceptorship. This award provided support for summer work under Leigh Callahan at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center to study how social determinants act as predictors of arthritis disability as part of the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project.

Shelby Addison, a third-year medical student at UNC, won the REF/Abbott Medical/Graduate Student Achievement Award in recognition of significant work in the field of rheumatology. Her poster on the selenium and joint metabolism biomarkers, using data from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project, was selected to be highlighted on the Osteoarthritis Poster Tour.

Amanda Nelson, M.D., won the Distinguished Fellow Award, given to clinical and research fellows in rheumatology in recognition of their meritorious performance throughout their training.

Source
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School