Two researchers from the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing at the University of Birmingham, affiliated with Prof. Adam Crofts’ research group and involved in the TRICIA (Tissue Research in Childhood Inflammatory Arthritis) partnership, have been honoured with the prestigious Emerging Investigator Excellence Awards by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Dr Chris Mahony and Dr Sam Kemble have both received this recognition for their outstanding contributions to the field of rheumatology.
The Emerging Investigator Excellence Awards were established by the ACR to commend exceptional abstracts presented by Early Career investigators, with only one award granted per abstract category.
Dr Chris Mahony, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the institute, has been acknowledged for his groundbreaking work in the Paediatric Rheumatology – Basic Science category. His research focuses on improving the treatment of inflammatory arthritis, particularly in children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Dr. Mahony’s work on “Cellular Deconstruction of Stromal and Myeloid Cell Compartments in the Inflamed Synovium of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis” has led to the creation of the first atlas of the inflamed synovium in children with JIA. This breakthrough paves the way for more effective treatments for children suffering from this condition in the future. The research was made possible through funding from Versus Arthritis, Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research, and the Medical Research Council (MRC).
Dr Sam Kemble, a Research Fellow at the institute, has been recognised for his contributions in the T Cell Biology & Targets in Autoimmune & Inflammatory Disease category. Dr Kemble’s research focuses on understanding how the body’s tissue resident cells control the development and longevity of specific, unhealthy environments in inflammatory diseases. His work on “Targeting Fibroblasts in Inflammatory Disease using Engineered T Cells” has identified pathogenic fibroblasts present in multiple inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and primary Sjögren’s syndrome (PSS). Dr Kemble and his team are currently investigating the use of chimeric antigen receptor T cells as a novel immunotherapy to target these cells within the disease tissue. This research holds promising implications for the development of new fibroblast-targeted therapies in inflammatory diseases.
The awards were presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence held in the San Diego Convention Centre, California, from 10th to 15th November 2023. The annual meeting serves as a vital platform for physicians, scientists, and health professionals involved in the treatment or research of arthritis or rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases to learn about the latest research and breakthroughs in the field.
