ACR Journals On Air

Hosted by American College of Rheumatology

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Welcome to "ACR Journals on Air," the ACR's newest podcast series featuring interviews, commentary, and analysis on research from our three peer-reviewed journals. Join us each episode for engaging discussions with authors and independent experts about recently published studies, their implications for clinical care, and how they move the field of rheumatology forward. Whether it's an expert analysis of a manuscript or deep dive with an author – our goal is the same – to understand the impact of the science and bring it from the bench to the bedside

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60 recent

August 4, 202641 min

RA Inference in EHR

In this episode, we explore how artificial intelligence and machine learning are advancing the use of electronic health record data in rheumatology. Dr. Kat discusses the development and validation of a natural language processing–based model to infer rheumatoid arthritis disease activity from structured and unstructured clinical data, its application in studying cardiovascular outcomes, and the challenges of deploying predictive models across different health systems. The conversation also examines the future of real-world evidence generation, the practical limitations of AI in clinical research, and Dr. Kat's career journey, offering insights and advice for the next generation of physician-scientists.

July 21, 2026Episode 9433 min

Distilling Still Disease: Interstitial Lung Disease and Still

In this episode, Michael J. Ombrello, MD, explores how our understanding of Still's disease has evolved, from recognizing interstitial lung disease as a key manifestation to uncovering the immunologic and genetic factors that may shape disease severity. He discusses insights from a National Institutes of Health natural history study, including interferon signatures, HLA associations, drug-associated immunologic reactions, and exome sequencing, and explains what these findings could mean for future diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment. The conversation also turns to Dr. Ombrello's own career path, the personal experiences that inspire his research, and the mentors who helped shape his journey as a physician-scientist. Type I Interferon Signature is Associated With Lung Disease, Drug-Associated Immune Reactions, and Genetic Variation in Interferon-Linked Pathways in Still Disease

July 7, 2026Episode 9336 min

GLP-1 receptor agonists in the RISE registry

In this episode, Nicholas P. McCormic discusses new real-world research from the RISE registry examining the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. He explains the motivation behind the study, its design, and key findings on medication use, weight loss, and differences between semaglutide and tirzepatide, while highlighting important considerations for clinicians and patients. Nick also shares insights into the strengths and limitations of using registry data before reflecting on his journey from psychology and sociology to earning a Ph.D. focused on chronic disease management and rheumatology, offering advice for aspiring researchers and a look at his future work.

June 23, 2026Episode 9228 min

VAT: A Visualization and Analysis Tool for Scleroderma

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Ji Soo Kim about a new tool designed to help people with scleroderma better understand and manage their disease. Using information collected over many years from patients receiving routine care, Dr. Kim developed an interactive platform that turns complex medical data into easy-to-understand charts and predictions. We discuss how the tool can help patients and doctors track disease progression, compare experiences with similar patients, and make more informed treatment decisions together. Dr. Kim also shares insights into the challenges of working with real-world health data, the future of personalized medicine in rheumatology, and the career path that led to this innovative work. Development of a Personalized Visualization and Analysis Tool to Improve Clinical Care in Complex Multisystem Diseases With Application to Scleroderma

June 9, 2026Episode 9133 min

Late-Onset Scleroderma Renal Crisis

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Swati Mehta and Dr. Lee Schulman Shapiro about their study examining early- and late-onset scleroderma renal crisis using data from three patient cohorts. They discuss key clinical findings, including important differences related to sex, autoantibodies, presentation, dialysis outcomes, and long-term prognosis, as well as the implications for patient care. The conversation also explores the personal journeys of both guests—from Dr. Mehta's path from northern India to a career at the intersection of nephrology and rheumatology, to Dr. Shapiro's reflections on nearly five decades in clinical practice and life after retirement.

May 26, 2026Episode 9044 min

AI for Nonpharmacologic Management of Chronic Rheumatic Diseases

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Nirali Shah about the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare and rehabilitation. Drawing from her recent scoping review, Dr. Shah discusses the evidence behind AI-driven health apps for education, exercise, gait retraining, clinical decision support, remote patient monitoring, and pain management. The conversation also explores the challenges, risks, and ethical considerations surrounding AI in clinical care, as well as the future relationship between digital health tools and healthcare professionals.

May 12, 2026Episode 8922 min

Multibiomarker Panel for RA-ILD

In this episode, we explore the emerging role of biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis–associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) with Dr. Brent Luedders, discussing how prior ILD research laid the foundation for his latest multi-cohort study. He walks us through the study design, including the use of VA and non-VA cohorts, the biomarker panel that was tested, and the key findings related to prevalent and incident RA-ILD, ROC analyses, and disease risk over time. We also discuss the study's limitations, the future of biomarkers in RA-ILD care, and Dr. Luedders' personal journey into rheumatology, research, and medical education. Performance of an Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis-Derived Multibiomarker Panel for Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease

April 28, 2026Episode 8843 min

Apremilast in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis

In this episode, Drs. Nilasha Ghosh and Anne Bass discuss immune-related adverse events from immune checkpoint inhibitors, focusing on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. They review early clinical recognition, epidemiology, and findings from a multicenter observational study evaluating apremilast, including patient characteristics, outcomes, and key limitations. The conversation also highlights insights from the HSS Checkpoint Inhibitor–Associated Arthritis Registry, the need for greater precision in rheumatology, and practical perspectives on mentorship and career development for emerging clinician–scientists. Use of Apremilast for the Treatment of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis

April 14, 2026Episode 8727 min

Genetic Risk Score for Pain in RA

In this episode, Dr. Katie McMenamin and Dr. Josh Baker discuss their research on the genetic drivers of pain in rheumatoid arthritis, drawing on data from the FORWARD and VARA cohorts. They explore how genetic risk scores relate to pain and disease activity, and what these findings mean for patient care, remission, and future clinical trials. The conversation also highlights key study limitations, along with reflections on the research process and advice for trainees pursuing careers in rheumatology. Development and External Validation of a Genetic Risk Score for Pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis

March 31, 2026Episode 8641 min

Peripheral Blood Gene Expression and Scleroderma Lung Disease

In this episode, Dr. Shervin Assassi discusses a secondary analysis of the SENSCIS trial, exploring how peripheral blood gene expression may predict response to mycophenolate in systemic sclerosis–associated lung disease. He highlights key findings linking immune and metabolic gene signatures, as well as C-reactive protein, to changes in lung function, and considers their potential role in guiding treatment and clinical trial design. The episode also touches on his career journey and insights into leadership, mentorship, and sustaining research productivity. Peripheral Blood Gene Expression Profiling and Prognostic Significance for the Course of Interstitial Lung Disease in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis

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