Jamal A. Mikdashi, MD, MPH

The goal of my clinical research is to study the mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and develop novel strategies to prevent cerebral vascular injury in patients with SLE. My long term goal is identifying novel treatments that target neuropsychiatric syndromes of SLE. To reach this goal two lines of research are being conducted. The first line of research is high quality clinical research using innovative epidemiological methodology and advanced statistical modeling that are essential in the study of outcome measures of SLE global disease activity and neuropsychiatric diseases.  My expertise as a clinical investigator, a peer reviewer and a practice guidelines expert, with a background in epidemiology and clinical trials, I have branded an instrument to measure cognitive impairment in SLE that defines minimally important change of cognitive impairment in SLE for clinical trials. This effort was accomplished upon the recommendation of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). In addition, my recent research work has identified the extent of neuropsychiatric damage related to the burden of cerebral vascular injury by imaging modalities and pathologic studies. The second line of research has been the identification of biomarkers of neurovascular unit injury that leads to blood brain barrier integrity dysfunction including inflammation, oxidative stress and microglia mediated neurotoxicity. We are investigation multiple mechanisms of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin -33 in mediating vascular damage and whether blocking IL-33 may promote neurovascular protection and prevent neurotoxicity in SLE. Collaborating with researchers in neurology, psychiatry, pathology and radiology within and outside University of Maryland have fostered an environment conducive to productive research that can advance the health of rheumatic population, in particular SLE patients, 

2005    Clinical Scholar Educator Award/American College of Rheumatology

2011    Super doctor Washington Post magazine

1992- Present - American College of Rheumatology, fellow member

1992- 1994 - American College of Physicians, fellow member

1987-1992 - Maryland Society of Rheumatic Diseases

1989-1992 - The Washington DC Society of Rheumatology

2003- 2006 - American College of Rheumatology Market Research Committee, Committee Member

2003-Present - Peer Reviewer: CNS Lupus                

                         Arthritis & Rheumatology

                         Annals Rheumatic Diseases

                         Journal of Rheumatology

                         Rheumatology (Oxford)

                         Clinical Rheumatology

                         American Journal of Medicine

                         Movement Disorder

                         Parkinson and Research Disorders

                         Neurology

                         Journal of Pediatric Neurology

                         Lupus

                         Seminars Arthritis Rheumatism

2005-2007 - American Association Motor Vehicle Administration, Committee Member

                     Medical chair - musculoskeletal group

                     Medical chair - metabolic and sleep disorders

2006-present - Center for Disease Control, consultant/ Peer Review

2008- 2012 - American College of Rheumatology Quality of care/ Practice guidelines subcommittee

2008- Present - American College of Rheumatology Educational committee

2009-   NIH peer review committee

2012- Present - Editor in chief: Journal of Case Reports in Rheumatology; Hindawi publication

STARA study (Weinstein) 2014- 2017

 Patient Centered Outcome Research Institute PCORI

The goal of the study is to determine predictors of remission in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Role: Co investigator

Clinician scholar educator in Rheumatology through teaching medical students, medical residents and post-docotral fellows, and consultative clinical care of patients with syndromes of CNS vasculitis and neuropsychaitric lupus