The mission of the WU-RDRRC is to advance research in rheumatic diseases by providing the infrastructure, education, and training to assist our members in the experimental and scientific design of their projects.

We provide subsidized service for the use of Cores that offer state-of-the-art technologies with the goal of advancing the pace of discovery. We also promote and enable cutting-edge collaborative science.

The overarching goals of the proposed Washington University Rheumatic Diseases Research Resource-based Center (WU-RDRRC) are to advance research in rheumatic diseases by providing the necessary infrastructure, resources, and opportunities for multiple levels of inquiry and then by translating those discoveries into treatments for delivery to patients. The WU-RDRRC seeks to advance the health of patients with rheumatic diseases by supporting enabling technology and promoting the basic and translational research interests of its 50 full and associate/adjunct members. These interests are organized around three major themes:

  1. basic mechanisms of inflammation and autoimmunity;
  2. translational genomics and biomarker discovery;
  3. musculoskeletal and regenerative medicine.

Our central hypothesis is that translational endeavors in rheumatic disease research require a team approach that involves a vibrant environment supported by a cross-disciplinary group of experts and state-of-the-art services. Our focus, which recognizes the increased interest in translational genomics and regenerative medicine here at Washington University, is the promotion of interactive approaches that will accelerate the pace of innovative discoveries and translate findings to improvements in the treatment of patients with rheumatic diseases.