Overview

Senior Investigator

Clinical Director

Portrait of Robert Colbert.

Robert A. Colbert, M.D., Ph.D.

In addition to overseeing his laboratory research program studying the etiology and pathogenesis of early onset arthritis, Dr. Colbert directs the NIAMS clinical research program, which includes disease-focused clinical units, the rheumatology and dermatology clinical training programs, and community outreach efforts.

The Clinical Research Programs at NIAMS conducts patient-based investigation in the areas of rheumatic, skin, muscular and inflammatory diseases, and train the next generation of physician-scientists and clinician-investigators in these areas. As part of the NIH intramural research program, the program is uniquely positioned to perform clinical and translational studies in the NIH Clinical Center, the world’s largest hospital and outpatient facility devoted exclusively to clinical investigation.  The NIAMS has a long and successful history of clinical investigation into the pathogenesis and treatment of rheumatic diseases dating back to the 1960’s, with emphases on systemic lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory muscle disease, and hereditary periodic fever syndromes, now recognized to be part of the spectrum of autoinflammatory diseases, a term coined at NIH. These studies stem from the interests of the clinical and basic investigators in the Institute as well as through aligning with the strengths of the NIH Clinical Center, including the study of rare diseases, innovative proof-of concept (PoC) clinical trials, and longitudinal clinical studies.

The NIAMS clinical research program, in partnership with other NIH intramural research programs, currently focuses its research in the areas of autoinflammatory diseases, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, spondylarthropathies, outcomes research, vasculitis, myositis, and selected bone and dermatological diseases.

Translational Research: The Bridge Between Basic Research and Clinical Disease

A goal of clinical investigation is to bridge information gained from laboratory research with that afforded by clinical experience. Carefully designed observational and interventional studies provide opportunities to verify basic biological understanding of disease. These studies then bring back to the laboratory new insights into the normal functioning of the organ and cellular systems underlying human health and disease.

Training Programs

The NIAMS Clinical Research Program includes ACGME-certified Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program, a joint Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Program with Childrens’ National Medical Center in Washington, DC, and Advanced basic, translational clinical research training in Rheumatology and Dermatology through the NIAMS Scholars in Translational Research Program.

NIAMS Community Health Clinic

In addition to its disease-focused clinical research programs, NIAMS operates a community health clinic which provides specialist care and screening for participation in clinical research studies for underserved patients in the local area with serious rheumatological conditions. The clinic is located on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland.

Contact Us

Susan Bozak

Staff Assistant
9000 Rockville Pike
Building: 10, Room: 6N204
Bethesda MD 20892

Core Research Facilities

Labs at the NIAMS are supported by the following state-of-the-art facilities and services:

Clinical Trials

The Clinical Program is engaged in several observational studies to understand the natural history of several rheumatic diseases and to test therapeutic interventions. For more information or to access a Protocol, please search the database of clinical studies being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center.

Ankylosing Spondylitis and Spondylarthritis

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 11-AR-0223
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases is conducting a study to learn more about the early signs and symptoms of SpA. The goal of this study is to follow the activity and progression of SpA.

Autoimmune Diseases

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04690816

Viral infections such as COVID-19 may lead to flare-ups in people with systemic autoimmune diseases (SAD). These infections may also change the function of their immune system and/or cause problems with their blood vessels. Researchers want to learn how people with SAD respond to treatments or vaccines for COVID-19. The objective of this study is to understand how COVID-19 affects inflammation, the immune system, and blood vessels in adults and children with autoimmune diseases.

Juvenile Arthritis

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03510442

Inflammatory conditions can cause symptoms like fevers, arthritis, and rash. Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) is one of these conditions. So is adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD). Their causes are unknown. Researchers want to learn more about these conditions. This includes genetic changes and environmental factors.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001372
This study follows a group of individuals over time who have SLE.
Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 94-AR-0066

This study admits patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The goal is to identify clinical subsets of patient that might aid in understanding progress and determining appropriate therapies.

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001372

This protocol will evaluate patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their relatives to learn more about how the disease develops and changes over time. It will also study genetic factors that make a person susceptible to SLE.

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001372

Patients with Lupus have an increased risk of developing heart attacks and stroke due to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). By examining how your blood vessels function and whether they are damaged and by comparing these tests to those of patients without Lupus, we will be able to better understand what triggers this complication in lupus and hopefully identify potential strategies to prevent this damage. During this study, it is possible that we will obtain an unanticipated finding about your health during the imaging studies.

Rheumatic Diseases

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00055055

This study will examine families in which one sibling of a sibling pair, or twin pair, has developed a systemic rheumatic disease and one has not, to see if and how the two differ in: blood cell metabolism, types of cells in the blood, or environmental exposures or genetic factors that might explain why one developed disease and the other did not.

Sjögrens Syndrome

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04496960

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease that often involves multiple organs of the body. The disease primarily affects females and manifests as inflammation and destruction of glands leading to dryness of mouth, eyes, skin, throat, and vagina. Additionally, patients may experience profound fatigue, widespread muscle pain, and swollen and painful joints. Researchers are trying to find new, more effective, and safe treatments for SS. The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of tofacitinib, an oral janus kinase inhibitor, in people with SS.

Vasculitis

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02257866

Vasculitis is a group of diseases that inflame and damage blood vessels and tissue. It can cause many medical problems. Few tests can diagnose the disease, and none can reliably predict a relapse. Researchers want to study people's genes and follow people over time to see how the disease affects them. The objective of this clinical trial is to learn the signs, symptoms, imaging tests, genetic markers, and blood tests that can help identify people with vasculitis and predict what will happen to them over time.

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 14-AR-0200

Researchers want to study people's genes and follow people over time to see how the disease affects them. People age 5 and older who have or are thought to have vasculitis, or are related to someone with it, are eligible. Healthy volunteers are also eligible.

Health Disparities

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 01-AR-0227
This study is designed to address the differences in clinical manifestations and severity of rheumatologic disease in African-Americans and Hispanic individuals.
Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 01-AR-0227

This study is designed to address the differences in clinical manifestations and severity of rheumatologic disease in African-Americans and Hispanic individuals.

Healthy Volunteers

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001372

We are examining how blood vessels function and how these vessels damaged due to lupus disease activities. We compare the data to see what the blood vessels should be as healthy person such as you but due to the Lupus disease activities how it changed compare to a healthy volunteer on the same age and gender. During this study, it is possible that we will obtain an unanticipated finding about your health during the imaging studies. An example of an unanticipated finding would be a nodule, abnormality, or cancer in your colon, lungs, or other areas of your body seen on the imaging studies.

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 11-E-0072

Adults and children with dermatomyositis or polymyositis who are within one year of diagnosis are potentially eligible for this study. The goal is to evaluate environmental factors that may be important to illness onset in myositis patients with certain autoantibodies (such as Jo1) compared to those without these autoantibodies and to healthy control subjects. The study involves patient questionnaires, blood testing, a vacuum dust sample, and a physician evaluation.

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02798523

The immune system defends the body against bacteria and other harmful invaders. But it can overact and attack healthy cells by mistake. The group of drugs called glucocorticoids (GCs) can calm down an overactive immune system. But they often cause negative side effects. Researchers want to learn how human genes respond to GCs. Genes live inside each cell of the body. They tell our cells how to function. Researchers hope the results of this study will show them how to develop better drugs that will have the benefits of GCs without the side effects.

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 02-AR-0131

Blood components will be collected using apheresis from normal volunteers and patients with rheumatic diseases. Mononuclear cells and plasma will be used by various investigators for research studies.

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 14-AR-0200

Researchers want to study people's genes and follow people over time to see how the disease affects them. People age 5 and older who have or are thought to have vasculitis, or are related to someone with it, are eligible. Healthy volunteers are also eligible.

Immunodeficiency

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 99-AR-0004

This study is to identify the genetic basis for immunodeficiencies in patients for whom the genetic basis is unknown. The goal is to identify genes important in the immune system regulation which are mutated or defective in patient with primary immunodeficiencies.

Melorheostosis

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 15-AR-0165

The rare disease melorheostosis causes bones to thicken. This may lead to pain, and can affect bones, joints, and muscles. Researchers want to learn more about the disease and how it progresses. All eligible patients are invited to participate in this protocol. Patients are adults aged 18 years or older with possible melorheostosis (suspected or confirmed).

Myositis

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 91-AR-0196

This study admits patient with polymyositis, dermatomyositis and other muscle diseases. The goal is to understand the progression of these diseases.

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 94-E-0165

This study enrolls patients with adult and juvenile dermatomyositis and polymyositis primarily. Patients generally only enroll if enrolling in another NIEHS study protocol. This study provides a thorough disease evaluation, including blood testing and imaging studies. Goals of the study include examination of genetic and environmental risk factors for myositis and natural history of the disease. (Contact: Adult patient referrals: Dr. Adam Schiffenbauer at schiffenbauera2@niehs.nih.gov; Pediatric patient referrals: Dr.

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 11-E-0072

Adults and children with dermatomyositis or polymyositis who are within one year of diagnosis are potentially eligible for this study. The goal is to evaluate environmental factors that may be important to illness onset in myositis patients with certain autoantibodies (such as Jo1) compared to those without these autoantibodies and to healthy control subjects. The study involves patient questionnaires, blood testing, a vacuum dust sample, and a physician evaluation.

Systemic Arthritis and Autoinflammation

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 18-AR-0081

This study aims to identify genetic and immunologic factors that contribute to sJIA/AOSD and related conditions and to determine their implications on inflammatory pathophysiology.  By doing so, we hope to identify novel therapeutic targets for inflammatory disease.

Scientific Publications

Selected Recent Publications

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibition with baricitinib in refractory juvenile dermatomyositis.

Kim H, Dill S, O'Brien M, Vian L, Li X, Manukyan M, Jain M, Adeojo LW, George J, Perez M, Grom AA, Sutter M, Feldman BM, Yao L, Millwood M, Brundidge A, Pichard DC, Cowen EW, Shi Y, Lu S, Tsai WL, Gadina M, Rider LG, Colbert RA
Ann Rheum Dis.
2021 Mar;
80(3).
doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-218690
PMID: 32843325

JAK1/2 inhibition with baricitinib in the treatment of autoinflammatory interferonopathies.

Sanchez GAM, Reinhardt A, Ramsey S, Wittkowski H, Hashkes PJ, Berkun Y, Schalm S, Murias S, Dare JA, Brown D, Stone DL, Gao L, Klausmeier T, Foell D, de Jesus AA, Chapelle DC, Kim H, Dill S, Colbert RA, Failla L, Kost B, O'Brien M, Reynolds JC, Folio LR, Calvo KR, Paul SM, Weir N, Brofferio A, Soldatos A, Biancotto A, Cowen EW, Digiovanna JJ, Gadina M, Lipton AJ, Hadigan C, Holland SM, Fontana J, Alawad AS, Brown RJ, Rother KI, Heller T, Brooks KM, Kumar P, Brooks SR, Waldman M, Singh HK, Nickeleit V, Silk M, Prakash A, Janes JM, Ozen S, Wakim PG, Brogan PA, Macias WL, Goldbach-Mansky R
J Clin Invest.
2018 Jul 2;
128(7).
doi: 10.1172/JCI98814
PMID: 29649002

Germline gain-of-function myeloid differentiation primary response gene-88 (MYD88) mutation in a child with severe arthritis.

Sikora KA, Bennett JR, Vyncke L, Deng Z, Tsai WL, Pauwels E, Layh-Schmitt G, Brundidge A, Navid F, Zaal KJM, Hanson E, Gadina M, Staudt LM, Griffin TA, Tavernier J, Peelman F, Colbert RA
J Allergy Clin Immunol.
2018 May;
141(5).
doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2018.01.027
PMID: 29427642

Neutrophil subsets and their gene signature associate with vascular inflammation and coronary atherosclerosis in lupus.

Carlucci PM, Purmalek MM, Dey AK, Temesgen-Oyelakin Y, Sakhardande S, Joshi AA, Lerman JB, Fike A, Davis M, Chung JH, Playford MP, Naqi M, Mistry P, Gutierrez-Cruz G, Dell'Orso S, Naz F, Salahuddin T, Natarajan B, Manna Z, Tsai WL, Gupta S, Grayson P, Teague H, Chen MY, Sun HW, Hasni S, Mehta NN, Kaplan MJ
JCI Insight.
2018 Apr 19;
3(8).
pii: 99276. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.99276
PMID: 29669944

IL1RN Variation Influences Both Disease Susceptibility and Response to Recombinant Human Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Therapy in Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Arthur VL, Shuldiner E, Remmers EF, Hinks A, Grom AA, Foell D, Martini A, Gattorno M, Özen S, Prahalad S, Zeft AS, Bohnsack JF, Ilowite NT, Mellins ED, Russo R, Len C, Oliveira S, Yeung RSM, Rosenberg AM, Wedderburn LR, Anton J, Haas JP, Rösen-Wolff A, Minden K, Szymanski AM, INCHARGE Consortium, Thomson W, Kastner DL, Woo P, Ombrello MJ
Arthritis Rheumatol.
2018 Aug;
70(8).
doi: 10.1002/art.40498
PMID: 29609200

(18) F-Fluorodeoxyglucose-Positron Emission Tomography As an Imaging Biomarker in a Prospective, Longitudinal Cohort of Patients With Large Vessel Vasculitis.

Grayson PC, Alehashemi S, Bagheri AA, Civelek AC, Cupps TR, Kaplan MJ, Malayeri AA, Merkel PA, Novakovich E, Bluemke DA, Ahlman MA
Arthritis Rheumatol.
2018 Mar;
70(3).
doi: 10.1002/art.40379
PMID: 29145713

Updated efficacy of avelumab in patients with previously treated metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma after ≥1 year of follow-up: JAVELIN Merkel 200, a phase 2 clinical trial.

Kaufman HL, Russell JS, Hamid O, Bhatia S, Terheyden P, D'Angelo SP, Shih KC, Lebbé C, Milella M, Brownell I, Lewis KD, Lorch JH, von Heydebreck A, Hennessy M, Nghiem P
J Immunother Cancer.
2018 Jan 19;
6(1).
doi: 10.1186/s40425-017-0310-x
PMID: 29347993

STAT5B: A Differential Regulator of the Life and Death of CD4(+) Effector Memory T Cells.

Majri SS, Fritz JM, Villarino AV, Zheng L, Kanellopoulou C, Chaigne-Delalande B, Grönholm J, Niemela JE, Afzali B, Biancalana M, Pittaluga S, Sun A, Cohen JL, Holland SM, O'Shea JJ, Uzel G, Lenardo MJ
J Immunol.
2018 Jan 1;
200(1).
doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701133
PMID: 29187589

BACH2 immunodeficiency illustrates an association between super-enhancers and haploinsufficiency.

Afzali B, Grönholm J, Vandrovcova J, O'Brien C, Sun HW, Vanderleyden I, Davis FP, Khoder A, Zhang Y, Hegazy AN, Villarino AV, Palmer IW, Kaufman J, Watts NR, Kazemian M, Kamenyeva O, Keith J, Sayed A, Kasperaviciute D, Mueller M, Hughes JD, Fuss IJ, Sadiyah MF, Montgomery-Recht K, McElwee J, Restifo NP, Strober W, Linterman MA, Wingfield PT, Uhlig HH, Roychoudhuri R, Aitman TJ, Kelleher P, Lenardo MJ, O'Shea JJ, Cooper N, Laurence ADJ
Nat Immunol.
2017 Jul;
18(7).
doi: 10.1038/ni.3753
PMID: 28530713

Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strain diversity underlying pediatric atopic dermatitis.

Byrd AL, Deming C, Cassidy SKB, Harrison OJ, Ng WI, Conlan S, NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, Belkaid Y, Segre JA, Kong HH
Sci Transl Med.
2017 Jul 5;
9(397).
doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aal4651
PMID: 28679656

Spatial distribution of syndesmophytes along the vertebral rim in ankylosing spondylitis: preferential involvement of the posterolateral rim.

Tan S, Dasgupta A, Yao J, Flynn JA, Yao L, Ward MM
Ann Rheum Dis.
2016 Nov;
75(11).
doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-208802
PMID: 26797721