Calgary Childhood Arthritis Research Program

Calgary Childhood Arthritis Research Program

We aim to transform care for children living with arthritis through implementation of evidence-based care models, clinical trials and integration of innovative translational research.

Dr. Susanne Benseler

Julia Brooks, PT

Dr. Tommy Gerschman

Dr. Nicole Johnson

Dr. Nadia Luca

Dr. Paivi Miettunen

Dr. Heinrike Schmeling

Dr. Beka Stevenson

Dr. Marinka Twilt

Program Coordinators:

Jeanie Quach

Blake Farion

The comprehensive Calgary Childhood Arthritis Research Program is built on innovative program clinics including:

  • Early Childhood Arthritis
  • Childhood Psoriatic Arthritis
  • Childhood Morphea and Scleroderma
  • Transition
  • Sports and Exercise Medicine

Within these program clinics and the general rheumatology clinics novel, funded research project are conducted including

  • pharmacogenetics of childhood arthritis
  • development of a transition tool kit
  • linking exercise with disease activity (LEAP)
  • biomarkers of uveitis
  • patient preferences in childhood arthritis (What matters most?)
  • Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Registry
  • Start Time Optimization for Biologics in Polyarticular JIA (STOP-JIA)

We closely align and partner with the outstanding researchers and clinicians of the adult Rheumatology Division in Calgary and in the Vi Riddell Childhood Pain and Rehabilitation Centre. Our team is strongly engaged in national and international research efforts and holds leadership roles and shapes the research agenda in the Canadian Childhood Arthritis Investigator Network CAPRI and the North American Childhood Arthritis Research Alliance CARRA. We are actively involved in several clinical trials aimed at establishing the safety and effectiveness of novel biologic therapies in childhood arthritis.