Joan Marie Bathon, MD

Dr. Bathon’s career has focused on understanding the pathogenesis and functional consequences of inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Her group is particularly interested in understanding the effects of chronic rheumatoid inflammation on the extra-articular clinical phenotype of RA, as manifested by accelerated atherosclerosis and myocardial dysfunction. They have taken a combined epidemiological/ translational approach to address these questions, by establishing and following two RA cohorts over a prolonged period of time, and by combining sensitive imaging techniques with biomarker studies and clinical outcome assessments.

In these studies they have comprehensively phenotyped the vascular beds (coronary, carotid, peripheral) of RA patients compared to controls, and identified risk factors for atherosclerosis and its progression. Current work focuses on defining prevalence and risk factors associated with vascular (aortic) inflammation, as well as myocardial inflammation, using state-of-the-art cardiac PET/CT scanning. Dr. Bathon is the PI on a longstanding R01 and co-PI on a current U01, and PI on several foundation grants. In addition, she has been the PI or co-investigator on many pivotal RA clinical trials, both industry and NIH sponsored.

Dr. Bathon has authored over 160 manuscripts and book chapters. She served as Editor-in-Chief of Arthritis and Rheumatology from 2010-15. She is a standing member of the NIH-NIAMS Arthritis Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Clinical Trial Review Committee (AMSCT) study section, and has served on a variety of other NIH and foundation grant review study sections and as chair or member of several NIH sponsored DSMBs. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), and she is a past member of the FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee.