NIAMS Labs and Core Facilities
Biodata Mining and Discovery Section
Led by Dr. Hong-Wei Sun, the Biodata Mining and Discovery Section facilitates biomedical research to support NIAMS IRP scientists and their discoveries.
Clinical and Investigative Orthopedics Surgery Unit
Led by Dr. Timothy Bhattacharyya, the unit investigates orthopedic conditions, including femur fractures and hip infections, and related treatments.Clinical Care and Research
Clinical Care and Research at NIAMS is located at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus in Bethesda, Maryland, comprises several programs of research focused on rheumatological health in minority and underserved populations. Medical experts in the fields of autoimmunity, arthritis, lupus, and other rheumatological diseases conduct research focused on the evaluation, diagnosis, standard of care, and disease management of underserved patients from the local community (Maryland, Virginia, and District of Columbia).
Clinical Research @ NIAMS
Based on Translational Research methods, NIAMS clinical trials give researchers a biological understanding of a disease that can inform their studies.
Cutaneous Development and Carcinogenesis Section
Led by Dr. Isaac Brownell, the Cutaneous Development and Carcinogenesis Section studies the signaling pathways such as Hedgehog signaling that regulate the development and maintenance of normal skin and the changes in these signals that occur during the formation of skin cancer
Cutaneous Leukocyte Biology Section
Led by Keisuke (Chris) Nagao, the section investigates cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate immunological and structural homeostasis in the skin.
Cutaneous Microbiome and Inflammation Section
Led by Heidi Kong, the section uses genomics to study the skin microbes in healthy individuals and patients with skin diseases and to expand our understanding of host-microbe interactions.Dermatology Branch
The Dermatology Branch conducts both clinical and basic research studying the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of inflammatory and malignant diseases involving the skin and the host's response to these diseases.
Dermatology Consultation Service
The Dermatology Consultation Service at the NIH Clinical Center evaluates patients with a variety of rare diseases with cutaneous manifestations. In addition, patients who experience adverse reactions to experimental therapeutic agents or manifest unrelated skin conditions while at the NIH are evaluated and treated. Dermatology Branch clinical fellows, fellows from other NIH Institutes, and visiting dermatology residents from around the country receive training on the Dermatology consult service.
Flow Cytometry Section
The Flow Cytometry Section provides state-of-the-art multi-parameter cellular analysis and cell sorting for NIAMS researchers and investigators.
Functional Immunogenomics Section
The Functional Immunogenomics Unit applies cutting-edge genomic technologies to the solution of medically important questions related to the immune system. A major focus is on the molecular dissection of the immunoregulatory effects of glucocorticoids.
Genomic Technology Section
The Genomic Technology Section helps NIAMS investigators solve highly diverse biological and biomedical research questions by providing a diverse portfolio of sequencing services as well as consultation and training for researchers with specific needs or challenging problems. It is a state-of-the-art laboratory facility equipped with the latest DNA sequencing and library preparation technologies.
Juvenile Myositis Pathogenesis and Therapeutics Unit
Led by Dr. Hanna Kim, this unit studies juvenile myositis, including juvenile dermatomyositis, by comprehensively evaluating patients to better understand disease pathogenesis and conducting early phase clinical trials to evaluate new treatments.Laboratory Animal Care and Use Section
LACU provides animal care services to support NIAMS Intramural Research Program Branches and Laboratories.
Laboratory of Molecular Immunogenetics, Genomics and Immunity Section
The lab investigates immune cell processes, and how they impact autoimmune and other inflammatory diseases.
Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation
Led by Dr. Vittorio Sartorelli, the lab studies mechanisms that regulate specification, differentiation, and regeneration of skeletal muscle cells.
Laboratory of Skin Biology
Dr. Maria I. Morasso is an Emeritus Investigator and is no longer conducting active research on the processes of epidermal differentiation, skin barrier formation and wound healing.
Laboratory of Structural Cell Biology
Led by Dr. Naoko Mizuno, the Laboratory of Structural Cell Biology aims to understand the molecular mechanisms governing specialized cell shapes, such as those of neurons, activated immune cells or platelets and certain cancer cells.
Light Imaging Section
The NIAMS Light Imaging Section provides scientists light imaging tools, and training on analysis of images with techniques of light microscopy.
Lupus Genomics and Global Health Disparities Unit
Dr. Lewandowski leads a team of scientists studying systemic lupus erythematosus patients in populations around the globe. Her research focuses on genetic drivers of severe disease and inflammation in diverse cohorts worldwide.
Lymphocyte Signaling Unit
Led by Dr. Tasha Morrison, the Lymphocyte Signaling Unit studies molecular processes that control immune cell development and function.
Lymphocyte Transcriptional Regulation Unit
The Transcriptional Regulation of Lymphocytes Unit focuses on the mechanisms behind T Cell specification. We integrate several next-generation sequencing techniques, such as RNAseq, to look at differential gene expression and ATACseq, to investigate T cell specification at both the transcriptional and epigenetic levels.
Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch
Led by Dr. John O’Shea, the branch investigates how T cells play a role in both immune defense and development of immune-mediated diseases.
Muscle Disease Section
Led by Dr. Andrew Mammen, the unit researches human muscle diseases, as well the basic biology of skeletal muscle regeneration.
Muscle Energetics Laboratory
The focus of Dr. Glancy’s muscle energetics research program is to determine how mitochondria are optimized within muscle cells to help maintain energy homeostasis during the large change in energy demand caused by muscle contraction.Office of Science and Technology
The Office of Science and Technology (OST) is responsible for the NIAMS Labs core facilities. It provides and develops new technologies and advises the Scientific Director, Lab and Section Chiefs, and researchers on emerging science and technology.
Pediatric Translational Research Branch
Led by Dr. Robert Colbert, the branch studies Spondyloarthritis, particularly early-onset Ankylosing Spondylitis and spinal development in children.
Protein Expression Laboratory
Led by Paul Wingfield, Ph.D., the Protein Expression Laboratory supports NIH research projects by analyzing and providing HIV proteins to their researchers and scientists.Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program
The Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program strives to train the next generation of leaders and pathfinders in rheumatology research.
RNA Molecular Biology Laboratory
Led by Dr. Markus Hafner, the laboratory studies the makeup of ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) involved in cellular RNA transport and control of RNA stability.
Scleroderma Genomics and Health Disparities Unit
The Scleroderma Genomics and Health Disparities Unit is focused on unraveling genetic risk by using genomic technologies and dissecting the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in order to comprehend autoimmune, fibrotic, and health disparity conditions.
Systemic Autoimmunity Branch
Led by Dr. Mariana Kaplan, the branch studies autoimmune diseases, like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, seeking treatments and improved outcomes.
Translational Genetics and Genomics Section
Led by Dr. Michael Ombrello, the section uses genomic approaches to understand the underlying factors of autoinflammatory and rheumatic diseases.
Translational Immunology Section
The Translational Immunology Section provides NIAMS researchers with cutting-edge immune monitoring technology as they strive to develop accurate and reproducible immune monitoring assays.