In 2016, the NIAMS Lupus Clinical Trials Unit established the DC Lupus Consortium (DCLC), a collaborative network of rheumatologists, nephrologists, physiatrists, and other health care providers interested in lupus clinical research in the Metropolitan DC area.
Stakeholders in this consortium have a vested interest in lupus clinical research. They include: patients, NIH scientists, researchers, patient advocacy groups, and physicians both within and outside of the NIH.
The DCLC aims to promote partnerships and referrals to the NIAMS Lupus Clinical Trials Unit and collaborate with local and regional clinicians caring for patients with lupus.
Join Us!
NIH scientists, researchers, patients, patient advocacy groups, and physicians within and outside of the NIH are welcome.
Get in touch with Elaine Poncio ([email protected]) or Isabel Ochoa ([email protected]) to join our mailing list.
DCLC and 30th Anniversary of Lupus Clinical Research - May 31, 2024
This event highlighted the outstanding progress in lupus clinical research made by the NIH over the last 30 years. It featured testimonials from research participants, updates on current lupus research activities at NIAMS, and discussions on the future direction of research at the NIH.
The event builds on the success of the DCLC, a platform for collaboration between NIH scientists, physicians outside the NIH, and patient advocacy groups interested in lupus clinical research.
A video recording of the program is available publicly at the following link. It runs for 2.5 hours.
Photos from 30th Anniversary Event
Past DCLC Events
DCLC and 25th Anniversary of Lupus Clinical Research 2019
The DCLC and the 25th anniversary of lupus clinical research were celebrated on May 17, 2019. The NIH has a storied history of lupus research, most notably with respect to lupus nephritis. Further, the Lupus Natural History Protocol has been active for 25 years, developing one of the world’s largest databases of lupus clinical research.
The Lupus Clinical Research team has worked busily over the last several years, reinvigorating research into novel lupus therapies. We remain committed to expanding our research efforts. We celebrated this incredible feat at this event by inviting patients and their families, NIH scientists, researchers, patient advocacy groups, and physicians both within and outside of the NIH. We closed out with a performance from the “Affordable Rock’n’Roll Act” followed by light refreshments at the FAES terrace.
DCLC 2017
The second DCLC meeting was held at the NIH on October 27, 2017. Attendees included NIH scientists, lupus research, and patient advocacy groups. Since 2016, 50% of patients referred by DCLC physicians have participated in clinical trials. Out of 48 new patients, 26 were screened for study enrollment, and another 22 are under review for eligibility or were found to not be eligible for current clinical trials. We introduced a new study investigating Aerobic Exercise in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus at this consortium.
- 24% of the patients enrolled in role of PPAR-gamma agonists in immunomodulation and vascular prevention in the SLE study were from DCLC physician referrals.
- 18% of the patients enrolled in the safety trial of the Janus kinase inhibitor tofacitinib in the SLE study were from DCLC physician referrals.
DCLC 2016
The inaugural DCLC meeting was held at the NIH on April 8, 2016. This was an introduction to inform the rheumatology community in the DMV area of our Lupus-related clinical research efforts. It included mostly local rheumatologist in the area to generate interest in this consortium and was mostly physician focused.