Lupus Centre of Excellence

The University of Calgary Lupus Centre of Excellence was founded in 2013 with a mission to:

• deliver the highest possible standard of care, informed by research, in a multidisciplinary care environment
• partner with patients to advance understanding of the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of SLE
• provide advanced clinical and research training

The centre is directed by Dr. Ann Clarke, who holds The Arthritis Society Chair in Rheumatic Disease Research at the University of Calgary. Dr. Megan Barber is the Centre’s Associate Director of Clinical Research and Clinical Trials and Dr. May Choi is the Associate Director of Translational Research.

Clinical Care Highlights

Lupus affects almost every organ system and the centre is privileged to offer a range of multidisciplinary clinics for patients with medical complexity. These clinics are co-led by Drs. Clarke and M. Barber together with exceptional colleagues in Hematology (Dr. Leslie Skeith), Nephrology (Drs. Kim Cheema and Nicholas Li), Maternal Fetal Medicine (Drs. Nancy Soliman, Anne Roggensack and Stephanie Cooper) and Obstetrics Internal Medicine (Dr. Kelle Hurd). These clinics promote patient-centered care and foster research collaborations across divisions and departments.

Clinical Research at the Lupus Centre of Excellence

The centre offers patients opportunities to join local, national and international observational studies and access novel and emerging therapies through participating in clinical trials. The Southern Alberta Registry for Lupus Erythematosus (STARLET) is an observational research registry and biorepository, which includes over 450 patients with serum samples bio-banked through Dr. May Choi’s research laboratory. Drs. Clarke, M. Barber and Skeith have a unique clinic focused on antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in collaboration with maternal fetal medicine. Patients with this rare and understudied condition can choose to participate in an APS international registry, APS-related trials, and observational studies.

Advanced Lupus Training

The centre is dedicated to training the next generation of lupus physicians and researchers. Recent trainees include nephrologists and rheumatologists who are now lupus subspecialists working across Canada.

"Being a lupus fellow at UCalgary, I had the privilege of working with Dr. Clarke, Dr. M Barber and other physicians who collaboratively lead multidisciplinary clinics. Training at the Lupus Centre of Excellence, Calgary, greatly enriched my ability to advance patient care at the Lupus Clinic at the Mary Pack Arthritis Centre, Vancouver, and to spark ideas in cutting edge research and collaborative and multidisciplinary care for lupus patients in BC."

- Dr. Azin Ahrari, Lupus Clinic at the Mary Pack Arthritis Centre, Vancouver

Research Spotlight - Dr. May Choi, Translational Research Program AI.DX

Following in the footsteps of her mentor, Dr. Marvin Fritzler (Professor Emeritus, Director of MitogenDx), Dr. Choi’s research is focused on biomarker discovery and validation for the prediction of clinical outcomes in autoimmune rheumatic diseases, and the prevention of autoimmune disease development and disease-related complications. Dr. Choi is a rheumatologist and clinician scientist who started on faculty in 2020 and is a Member of the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health. Although her post-graduate training at
the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston, MA) was in lupus, she conducts research in many other immune-mediated diseases including autoimmune inflammatory myopathies, systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and vasculitis. Dr. Choi continues to be an active part of MitogenDx as their Associate Director, and she also acts as the Associate Director of Translational Research for the University of Calgary Lupus Centre of Excellence.

Dr. Choi's translational research program AI.DX (Artificial Intelligence and Autoimmune Diagnostics) consists of six streams: 1) Biomarker Discovery, 2) Autoimmune Disease Biobank, 3) Artificial Intelligence in Biomarker Analysis, 4) Knowledge Translation and Patient Advocacy, 5) Clinical Trials, and 6) Indigenous and Global Health. Her team includes several senior lab technologists, coordinators, and undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students.

All the biomarker testing and analysis is conducted in her laboratory in the Health Research Innovation Centre. Most projects are done in collaboration with clinicians, research teams, and organizations from around the world. Within the Department of Medicine at the CSM, she collaborates across multiple disciplines including hematology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, respirology, and nephrology, as well as pediatrics.

Her program has become an important translational research center. By leveraging machine learning to analyze extensive datasets-encompassing biomarkers and patient clinical information, this integration of machine learning with traditional research methods sets it apart. The establishment of a national biobank not only facilitates high-quality sample collection and storage but also supports collaborative research efforts across multiple institutions, making it a valuable resource for advancing scientific knowledge. The program has enhanced its research capabilities by establishing an extensive national and international network of research institution collaboration.

Since 2020, Dr. Choi has been a nominated PI or Co-PI on 26 peer-reviewed grants totaling nearly $11 million. She received a Canadian Institutes of Health Research project grant in her first year and a Canadian Foundation of Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Award in her second year as an early career investigator. This funding enables the team to sustain its operations, pursue ambitious research goals, and continue to make significant advancements in the field.

The Overall Goals of AI.DX Are:

• Improved Early Diagnosis and Management: By identifying novel biomarkers and developing predictive models, the program aims to enable earlier, more accurate diagnosis of rheumatic diseases. 
• Enhanced Access to Diagnostic Testing: Implementing remote testing technologies, the program seeks to expand diagnostic access, especially for underserved or remote communities, reducing barriers and ensuring timely care.
• Better Understanding of Disease Risk and Complications: Research on biomarkers and disease mechanisms will offer insights associated with rheumatic diseases, helping predict and mitigate severe outcomes, such as cardiovascular issues for patients living with lupus.
• More Effective Treatments and Interventions: Collaborations with research centers and the integration of machine learning aim to develop more effective treatments. Patients will benefit from data-driven advancements in therapy.