Summary of current and planned Clinical Research Projects:

1. Specialized Centers of Clinically-Oriented Research (SCCOR) – NIH supported Center grant investigating Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Scleroderma.
2. Biomarkers of vascular disease in Scleroderma - K23 award for Dr. Laura Hummers.
3. Fasudil - a Rho Kinase Inhibitor in the Treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon, sponsored by Peninsula Community Foundation
4. Topical nitroglycerin in the treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon - Studies sponsored by Mediquest using a novel topical preparation.
5. Bosentan in the treatment of digital ulcers in scleroderma - A phase III multicenter trial sponsored by Actelion.
6. Ambulatory Raynaud’s Monitor (ARM) for the study of Raynaud’s phenomenon - Investigator initiated study in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratories.
7. High dose cylcophosphamide (immunoablative therapy) without stem cell rescue for severe early scleroderma: investigator initiated pilot study.
8. Studies into the pathogenesis and treatment of Scleroderma Lung Disease.
9. T cells in Scleroderma Lung Disease - NIH funded study in collaboration with Dr. Sergei Atamas at the University of Maryland.
10. African American race as a risk factor influencing survival in scleroderma.
11. The Natural History of Pulmonary Hypertension (PAH) in Scleroderma in collaboration with Dr. Virginia Steen.
12. EUSTAR - Development of a Scleroderma Activity Score, an international effort supported by EUSTAR.
13. Novel treatments for other aspects of scleroderma are under investigation.