Research

Our research is being carried out at three locations: Campus Schlieren, Campus Balgrist and at the Department of Rheumatology (Gloriastrasse 25 in Zürich).

While the clinical side of our department aims at a high level of treatment and care along the whole spectrum of Rheumatology, our research focuses on following diseases:

• Inflammatory autoimmune diseases (systemic sclerosis and myositides)
• Chronic arthritides (rheumatoid arthritis, spondylarthritis)
• Musculoskeletal pain syndrome (chronic back pain and complex regional pain syndrome)

The main research targets are always translational, therefore the same targets appear in clinical research as well as in molecular biology reseach programs. Generally, national and international registers exist for the main targeted diseases. These registers are of great importance for the clinical and the pre-clinical translational research.

Our research groups have been distinguished as “Center of Excellence” by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR).

At the moment we have 9 research groups under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Oliver Distler. The principal investigator of each group is a scientifically independent and, as a rule, habilitated scientist. Three of our groups have a clinical focus, while the other six are of a molecular biology / translational nature.

Organization (PDF)

Group leader Prof. Dr. Oliver Distler Head of Department +41 44 255 29 77 oliver.distler@usz.ch ​ Publications Research field: SSc, fibrosis and autoimmunity Tel. +41 44 255 29 77 oliver.distler@usz.ch PD Dr. Adrian Ciurea Deputy Head of Department +41 44 255 29 58 adrian.ciurea@usz.ch ​ Publications Research field: Arthritides / Spondyloarthritides Tel. +41 44 255 29 58 adrian.ciurea@usz.ch KD Dr. med. Diana Frey Head Clinical Trials +41 44 255 34 82 ​Publications Clinical Trials (German) Tel. +41 44 255 34 82 Dr. Suzana Jordan Group leader +41 44 255 86 22 suzana.jordan@usz.ch ​Publications Tel. +41 44 255 86 22 suzana.jordan@usz.ch PD Dr. Astrid Jüngel Group leader +41 44 510 75 13 astrid.juengel@usz.ch ​ Publications Research field: Modic Changes, CRPS, 3D-Skin Tel. +41 44 510 75 13 astrid.juengel@usz.ch PD Dr. Gabriela Kania Group leader +41 43 253 30 13 gabriela.kania@usz.ch ​ Publications Research field: Mechanism of multiorgan remodelling in SSc Tel. +41 43 253 30 13 gabriela.kania@usz.ch PD Dr. med. Britta Maurer Group leader +41 44 255 21 16 britta.maurer@usz.ch ​ Publications Research field: Towards precision medicine in SSc Tel. +41 44 255 21 16 britta.maurer@usz.ch Prof. Dr. Michel Neidhart Group leader +41 43 253 31 70 michel.neidhart@usz.ch ​ Publications Research field: Epigenetic reprogramming Tel. +41 43 253 31 70 michel.neidhart@usz.ch PD Dr. med. Caroline Ospelt Group leader +41 43 253 31 71 caroline.ospelt@usz.ch ​ Publications Research field: The role of synovial fibroblasts in RA Tel. +41 43 253 31 71 caroline.ospelt@usz.ch Prof. Dr. med. Steffen Gay Consultant +41 44 255 57 37 steffen.gay@usz.ch ​Publications Tel. +41 44 255 57 37 steffen.gay@usz.ch

Administration Nicole Schneider Finances / Personnel +41 44 25 52977 nicole.schneider@usz.ch Tel. +41 44 25 52977 nicole.schneider@usz.ch Georgina Mathis-Pairo Administration +41 43 253 31 73 georgina.mathis@usz. Tel. +41 43 253 31 73 georgina.mathis@usz.

Adress Campus Schlieren University Hospital Zürich Center of Experimental Rheumatology Bio-Technopark Schlieren Wagistrasse 14 8952 Schlieren Directions Campus Balgrist University Hospital Zürich Center of Experimental Rheumatology Campus Balgrist Wet lab level W Lengghalde 5 8008 Zürich Directions Department of Rheumatologie University Hospital Zürich Department of Rheumatology Gloriastr. 25 8091 Zürich Directions, Map (PDF)

PhD positions PhD positions We recruit PhD candidates via the Life Science Zurich Graduate School (Integrative Molecular Medicine (imMed) program).