Message from the Director
AARC scientists are making significant contributions to patient care for many autoimmune diseases. A multitude of collaborative studies are undertaken by these gifted scientists every year – for example, experiments to identify candidate genes associated with ankylosing spondylitis; evaluating lupus patients for prevalence and type of atherosclerotic vascular events and risk factors; conducting qualitative studies to better understand patients’ perspectives on their experience at work in relation to their inflammatory arthritis; and studying the histological changes in the cell populations of subchondral bone marrow resulting from inflammation in animal models of arthritis.
These scientists are publishing scientific articles that provide new insights into factors that influence susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, offer evidence of other health risks associated with chronic autoimmunity and evaluate the effectiveness of new therapeutic approaches. Active research programs are focused on understanding the immunobiology of disease progression, with the objective to provide therapeutic interventions and develop regenerative approaches to damaged tissues and joints. In every regard, using whichever measures are applied, AARC scientists are at the forefront of research activities related to arthritis and autoimmune diseases.
The renewed commitment from the Board of the AARC Foundation allows us to plan ahead and start to construct the resource infrastructure and scientific collaborations that enable our growth and facilitate our success. Once again let me take this opportunity to thank you for supporting this research. and for the ongoing resolve and determination to assist with the pursuit of research studies to help... beat arthritis.

Eleanor N. Fish, Ph.D.


Director, Arthritis & Autoimmunity Research Centre
University Health Network

Head, Division of Cell & Molecular Biology
Toronto General Research Institute
University Health Network

Professor, Dept. of Immunology
University of Toronto
Rising Stars
The AARC Advantage:
A&A Research at UHN
AARC Researchers
Patient Programs
  • The Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis Program (MHA)
  • Rheumatology Division
  • The Orthopaedic Surgery Division
  • The Hand Program


  • Read more about our Patient Programs
     
    Research Programs
  • Arthritis Centre of Excellence (ACE)
  • Arthritis Community Research and Evaluation Unit (ACREU)
  • Canadian Network for Improved Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (CaNIOS)
  • Rebecca MacDonald Centre for Arthritis & Autoimmune Disease
  • The Centre for Prognosis Studies in Rheumatic Diseases


  • Read more about our Research Programs