Laura Christine Cappelli, M.D., M.H.S., M.S.

Dr. Cappelli has started a research program to evaluate the rheumatologic adverse effects of cancer immunotherapy.  New agents, called immune checkpoint inhibitors, work to boost patients’ own immune systems to fight their cancer, leading to great advances in treatment. However, they can also lead to adverse events as a result of their mechanism of action.  Rheumatologists are seeing patients with inflammatory arthritis, immune-mediated dry mouth and dry eyes, myositis, vasculitis and other adverse events due to cancer immunotherapy. Dr. Cappelli is investigating several different aspects of these adverse events including the clinical characteristics, epidemiology, impact on patients, and the biologic mechanisms. Her work involves collaborations with oncologists and laboratory investigators in rheumatology and oncology. Through this research, guidelines for evaluation and management of adverse events can be developed and those at greatest risk for adverse events may be identified.  

Dr. Cappelli also has a research interest in rheumatoid arthritis. She focuses on the use of autoantibodies as biomarkers and on patients with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis.