Saira Z. Sheikh, MD

I am the Linda Coley Sewell Distinguished Professor of Medicine at UNC. I am the Director of the Clinical Trials Program at the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center, as well as the UNC Rheumatology Lupus Clinic. My work focuses on answering scientific questions that directly impact the care of patients with complex immunologic diseases, such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Sjogren’s syndrome. I am the Principal Investigator on numerous clinical trials for new therapeutics, and leads translational projects focused on understanding the development of prognostic markers for autoimmune disease. I have received NIH funding in collaboration with a local biotech company to commercialize the development of novel cell-based assays to diagnose and track autoimmune diseases. Using cutting-edge insights in immunology, my team strives to better understand and treat autoimmune diseases. I am leading national initiatives to develop real-world, practical models to promote inclusion of patients of racial and ethnic minorities in lupus clinical trials, particularly using technology-based applications. In April 2019, I was invited to speak at the National Academy of Sciences to share my work focused on health literacy in clinical trials (https://doi.org/10.17226/25616). I am the Vice-Chair of the Lupus Clinical Investigators Network (LuCIN), which is largest lupus clinical trials network of academic centers in the United States and Canada (https://lupustherapeutics.org/about/). I recently completed a three-year term on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Annual Meeting Planning Committee and have served as Co-Chair of the ACR’s Annual Review Course. I am actively involved in the education of patients, medical students, residents, and sub-specialty fellows. I am a skilled physician, researcher, and educator. I have an outstanding reputation for expertise amongst patients and colleagues across the institution and nationally and patients travel from all 100 North Carolina counties and from around the country to see me in clinic. I am a Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (FAAAAI), the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (FACAAI) and of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). I also serve on the Medical-Scientific Advisory Council for the Lupus Foundation of America.