Annual Publication 2025 FINAL 05292025 accessible - Flipbook - Page 35
That’s partly why Dr. Chatham’s arrival in Southern Nevada
has been so impactful. But it gets better. Dr. Chatham is now
conducting the only clinical research on lupus therapies in
Southern Nevada promoted and supported by The Lupus Clinical
Investigators Network (LuCIN). This distinction positions the Kirk
Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV among a group of 57 top
academic research medical centers in North America, with LuCIN
providing funds for the infrastructure to conduct multiple clinical
trials and linking member sites to studies of new cutting-edge
therapies.
“It is very exciting to have Dr. Chatham and the Kirk Kerkorian
School of Medicine at UNLV join LuCIN,” says Stacie Bell, PhD,
chief clinical research o昀케cer for Lupus Therapeutics. “Dr.
Chatham brings extensive expertise and passion to the network
and ensures that UNLV offers outstanding lupus care and clinical
trials to the entire region.”
As of this writing, Dr. Chatham is actively overseeing two clinical
trials, looking at a novel monoclonal antibody called Ianalumab,
a drug that has shown promise treating patients with lupus and
Sjogren’s syndrome. Monoclonal antibodies are proteins made
in a laboratory, designed to bind to speci昀椀c targets in the body.
Dr. Chatham and his team, mostly resident physicians he’s
training, are currently seeking patients with moderate to severe
lupus and lupus nephritis. They are currently contracting for and
awaiting site activation to also begin late phase clinical trials
using other antibody-based therapies to treat patients suffering
with Sjogren’s syndrome, as well as patients with early systemic
sclerosis (Scleroderma).
“The patient population here is interesting,” Dr. Chatham says.
“They tend to have not just one autoimmune disease, but often
have several in combination … so there are some studies that
need to be done to wrap our heads around why that may be.”
PHOTO: JULIAN FOX
Since moving to Southern Nevada, Dr. Chatham has discovered a
larger than anticipated population in need of attention.
“We know that patients with Native American ancestry, which
probably comprise the majority of the Hispanic population in
the Southwest, are at increased risk for signi昀椀cant autoimmune
disease,” says Dr. Chatham. “And patients with Asian/Paci昀椀c
Islander ancestry, like those with African ancestry, are at greater
risk for more severe autoimmune disease.” According to the U.S.
Census Bureau, 34% of the population in Las Vegas is Hispanic
and 13% identify as Asian/Paci昀椀c Islanders. “When you tally up
the percentages of residents in the Las Vegas area who have
African, Native American, Asian, and Paci昀椀c Islander ancestry,
all linked to increased risk and severity of autoimmune diseases
such as lupus, that’s well over half of the population here.”
So, you can see why rheumatologists, and speci昀椀cally those who
conduct research into novel lupus therapies, are in such great
demand.
“A number of lupus trials had been conducted in the Las Vegas
area,” Dr. Chatham says. “But the doctor who oversaw them has
retired, so the opportunity for patients to access these newer
cutting-edge therapies was fading.”
Dr. Chatham and his team are determined to forge ahead with
their research, bolstered by the promise of more rheumatologists
practicing in Southern Nevada thanks to the new fellowship
program.
“There’s no question that because of the sheer number of
patients we see, we have our work cut out for us – simply caring
for the community,” Dr. Chatham says. “But I see real promise
and opportunity with the new fellowship, and with a growing
reputation for clinical research, it should attract additional talent
in rheumatology – it’s something our patients here deserve.”
The research team is seeking Southern Nevadans to participate in lupus, as well as Sjogren’s clinical trials.
Eligible individuals include: those with established lupus, who are not responding to initial therapy with
antimalarial medications, such as hydroxychloroquine; patients with newly diagnosed lupus nephritis; and
patients with diagnosed Sjogren’s. Study participants will have the opportunity to access new therapies that
more speci昀椀cally target their disease, usually with fewer side effects than current conventional therapies,
and at no cost. To inquire about enrollment, contact cto@unlv.edu.
SUMMER 2025 MAGAZINE
35
WINN CHATHAM, MD
36 practicing rheumatologists in Nevada, a paltry number
considering that by some estimates, approximately 13,000
Nevadans are living with lupus, an autoimmune disease causing
extreme fatigue, dis昀椀guring rashes, cardiovascular issues, and
signi昀椀cant joint pain. Rheumatologists treat lupus patients, but
also those suffering from osteoarthritis, gout, and a myriad of
other rheumatic and autoimmune conditions. Unfortunately in
Nevada, getting an appointment with a rheumatologist can take
six months or more.
