Columbia Scleroderma Center

The Columbia Scleroderma Center, directed by systemic sclerosis researcher Elana J. Bernstein, MD, MSc, is a leading institution in the treatment and research of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) and related conditions. Situated within Columbia’s medical campus, the Center offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary care and serves as a hub for innovative clinical and translational research.

As an active site for numerous clinical trials, including those focusing on systemic sclerosis and systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease, the Center provides patients with access to emerging treatments and therapies. Among these are pioneering CAR-T cell trials, which bring the latest in cellular therapy to patients. The Center also performs stem cell transplantation for individuals with severe systemic sclerosis, providing advanced therapeutic options for those with critical needs.

With a commitment to personalized care and cutting-edge research, the Columbia Scleroderma Center is dedicated to improving patient outcomes, advancing scientific understanding, and fostering an informed, supportive community for patients and caregivers.

The Scleroderma Center is dedicated to intensive research, the advancement of scleroderma treatments, and the understanding of its causes.

Scleroderma means "hard skin". It is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by the hardening of the skin and other organs, including the lungs, kidneys, gut, and blood vessels. Scleroderma is a rare disease with no known cure. Because it affects many organs, it requires expertise from a range of specialties.

Columbia Scleroderma Center

At the Scleroderma Center, our rheumatologists are deeply committed to scleroderma research and to the discovery of new therapies to help our patients. We provide coordinated, multidisciplinary care that brings together specialists from across a world-renowned medical center. Our patients benefit from long-term, compassionate care from our dedicated physicians, along with support services for families and loved ones.

Multidisciplinary Team Care

Our patients receive coordinated care from a range of specialists, including rheumatologists, pulmonologists, dermatologists, neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, cardiologists, and nephrologists. We have particular expertise in working with patients who develop interstitial lung disease, which is one common feature of scleroderma. Our patients come to one facility to receive all of their care.

Dedicated Scleroderma Research

Our physician-scientists are dedicated to finding better treatments for patients with scleroderma, understanding and identifying the cause of scleroderma, and investigating new techniques to effectively manage this illness. Our patients have access to a number of clinical trials that are available only at the Scleroderma Center. We are continually striving to better understand scleroderma, and translate our discoveries directly into better patient care.

Family Support Services

Autoimmune disorders take a toll on the lives of patients and their families. At the Scleroderma Center, we make sure our patients and their loved ones are connected to the services they need. We believe that understanding your disease is an important part of the treatment process, and we provide educational materials and services to all our patients and their families.

Connect Patient Portal

Current patients can count on secure messaging, the use of our online bill payment feature, and 24/7/365 access to their healthcare information through the Connect online portal.

Signing up for Connect is easy. Ask about joining Connect at your next visit.  If you already have an invitation and activation code, visit our sign-up page. If you do not have an activation code, visit our self-sign-up page and follow the directions.

Connect is a joint effort of Columbia, NewYork-Presbyterian, and Weill Cornell Medicine, so a single Connect account links you to all three institutions.

Location

Herbert Irving Pavilion
161 Fort Washington Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10032

Collaborators

Elana J. Bernstein MD, MSc
Director, Columbia Scleroderma Center
Florence Irving Associate Professor of Medicine

Elana J. Bernstein MD, MSc, is the founder and Director of the Columbia Scleroderma Center. Dr. Bernstein's clinical and research interests focus on systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), as well as on the detection and treatment of interstitial lung disease and pulmonary hypertension in patients with autoimmune diseases. She is the Florence Irving Associate Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Dr. Bernstein graduated summa cum laude from Amherst College and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society while a medical student at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She was the recipient of the American College of Rheumatology Distinguished Fellow Award and the Charles L. Christian Award for Excellence in Musculoskeletal Research while a rheumatology fellow at Hospital for Special Surgery. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to systemic sclerosis research, Dr. Bernstein received the Edith Busch Prize for Young Investigators at the 2024 Systemic Sclerosis World Congress. Dr. Bernstein has received grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense, Arthritis Foundation, and Rheumatology Research Foundation to study lung disease in systemic sclerosis. Her ongoing research projects focus on interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis and on lung transplantation in patients with autoimmune diseases. Dr. Bernstein is the Principal Investigator of several scleroderma clinical trials and NIH-funded studies here in the Columbia Scleroderma Center.

Yiming Luo, MD, MHS
Assistant Professor of Medicine

Dr. Yiming Luo is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and a key faculty member in the Columbia Scleroderma Center. After completing his fellowship training at the National Institutes of Health, he joined Columbia's Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, where he has dedicated himself to both patient care and research. He provides comprehensive care for patients with systemic sclerosis, focusing on each individual's unique needs. Dr. Luo's research focuses on uncovering the genetic underpinnings of systemic sclerosis. He also leads and participates in observational studies and clinical trials. Through these efforts, he aims to identify novel therapeutic targets and develop more personalized treatment approaches for this challenging condition.

Second year fellow Aradhna Agarwal, MD

Aradhna Agarwal, MD, MPH
Scleroderma Fellow

Dr. Aradhna Agarwal is a rheumatology fellow specializing in systemic sclerosis, with a particular focus on the impact of body composition on autoimmunity and disease outcomes. Recognizing the significant unmet need in scleroderma care, her research explores how muscle and fat distribution relate to disease progression, organ involvement, and treatment response. Her work is supported by an NIH T32 award, reflecting her commitment to advancing the understanding of systemic sclerosis.

Dr. Agarwal earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Tufts University, where she majored in Biology and Community Health, before obtaining her medical degree from The Ohio State University. She then earned her Master of Public Health degree at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Dr. Agarwal completed her internal medicine residency at UT Southwestern before specializing in rheumatology, with a focus on scleroderma and its complex systemic manifestations.