Lupus Research—Linking Clinical Care and Scientific Study
By Office of the President | Mar 17, 2026
University Hospital at Downstate provides care for many patients living with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This chronic autoimmune disease affects women at higher rates and occurs more frequently among Black and Hispanic populations. In Brooklyn, where large numbers of residents fall within these higher-risk groups, lupus often appears in clinical practice and places a burden on patients and families. And for Downstate clinics, lupus is not rare. It is familiar, complex, and deeply personal for many of the patients we serve.
Research has shown that lupus rates are higher in communities such as Central Brooklyn, where Black women experience the disease at several times the rate observed in the general population and often develop symptoms at younger ages. These realities shape the work of clinicians and researchers at Downstate.
In February, a multidisciplinary team of Downstate faculty and fellows published a review in Frontiers in Immunology examining current directions in lupus therapy. The article summarizes developments in the field and discusses approaches that target specific immune pathways associated with lupus autoimmunity.
Faculty from the Department of Cell Biology and the Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology in the School of Graduate Studies collaborated on the work, linking clinical questions with laboratory research that informs patient care.
The review describes a treatment approach that aims to regulate immune activity more precisely rather than relying only on broad immune suppression. For lupus patients, this may help control inflammation while limiting the infection risks associated with immunosuppressive drugs. This approach reflects a broader shift toward more targeted therapies designed to address disease-driving immune activity with greater precision.
The publication also builds on earlier lupus research at Downstate. Previous President’s Bulletin coverage recognized the contributions of Ellen M. Ginzler, M.D. (ret.), whose work helped establish Downstate’s role in lupus clinical trials and outcomes research. The current review reflects continued work by faculty and trainees.
Authors of the review include doctoral students Shreya Shai (COM 2028) and Sailee Vijay Chavan, along with faculty members Miriam Feuerman, Ph. D., Associate Professor, Cell Biology; Christopher A. J. Roman, Ph.D.; and Chongmin Huan, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Cell Biology. Elaine Huan and Peter Kalin provided additional support in preparing the manuscript.
Lupus research and patient care remain closely connected. Clinical experience shapes the questions researchers pursue, and those findings help guide how clinicians approach treatment.
Tags: Research