Cornelia Weyand, M.D., Ph.D.

Department of Medicine

• M.D., University of Aachen, Germany, 1979
• Ph.D., University of Bonn, Germany, 1980

Research Interests: Our studies have concentrated on understanding the molecular events regulating the process of lymphoid neogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We have purused the hypothesis that the formation of highly organized and complex lymphoid architectures optimizes cell-cell interactions, and lends stability and chronicity to the autoimmune responses. We have identified the cellular players contributing to the assembly of ectopic germinal centers and the molecular components regulating lymphoid organogenesis. These studies have been possible by establishing a xenograft model in which human rheumatoid synovium is implanted into SCID mice. The impact of extranodal germinal center reaction is currently being studied in prognostic clinical trials, correlating disease evolution and lymphoid microstructure formation. We expect that understanding the molecular and cellular components that drive the tissue organization of inflammatory infiltrates will have implications for the immunomodulatory treatment of RA.