Centre for Rheumatology (Bloomsbury)
The Centre for Rheumatology at UCL is one of the leading academic rheumatology units in the UK. The Centre has been acknowledged as a Lupus Centre of Excellence by Lupus UK, SLE the patients group. As well as seeing around 3000 new patients and 15,000 follow ups annually, the centre undertakes an enormous amount of clinical and basic research aimed at increasing our understanding of the cause of musculoskeletal diseases and improving their management.
The clinical
component of the centre is based in the new UCH hospital. As well as
providing our NHS 'basic' care, we also undertake wide-ranging clinical
studies of patients with the autoimmune rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid
arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, myositis
and vasculitis), osteoporosis, hypermobility syndromes, and chronic
pain syndromes. In a recent development we have introduced a 'one-stop shop' for patients with early onset arthritis which means patients are seen quickly, a full history, blood tests and ultrasound of their affected joints are done on the same visit to facilitate rapid diagnosis. We have particular strengths in disease assessment
'tools' and in developing and utilizing biological therapies. The centre has been assessed as the best training centre for clinical registrars among all the sub-specialities in London.
The research component of the centre is based in laboratories part funded by the Arthritis Research UK (ARUK) in the Rayne Building (University Street). Our laboratory based research focuses on the structure, function, origin and pathogenic consequences of autoantibodies; B and T cell regulation, lipid rafts and the molecular effects of statins. We hold an Oliver Bird PhD programme grant from the Nuffield Foundation, two program grants from the ARUK, several research fellowships (ARUK and Welcome Trust funded) and many projects grants. Its success can be judged by our total grant income being in excess of £9,000,000 in the past four years, and outside of its institutes, is the largest single centre beneficiary of ARUK funds in the UK (all achieved through competitive awards).
