The group has two main research interests: clinical research on rheumatoid arthritis, and basic research on the biology of cytokines of the interleukin-1 family. Clinical research focuses on genetic and environmental factors influencing rheumatoid arthritis outcomes, therapy response, and cardiovascular events in patients. The group accesses a national cohort of approximately 6,000 rheumatoid arthritis patients with clinical disease measures and radiographic joint damage assessments, and is establishing a biobank with genomic DNA and serum collection. The laboratory investigates regulation of expression and biological function of IL-1 family cytokines in experimental inflammatory disease models using genetically modified mouse lines, with extensive experience in arthritis and skin inflammation models.