There has been an explosion in new therapies for autoimmune diseases and malignancies, based on a better understanding of how cells secrete chemicals to communicate with and alter other cells' function and futures. These chemicals, called cytokines, can be targeted to neutralize cytokines in order to control autoimmune diseases. These presentations will introduce the participants to the immune system, how these new therapies work, and how companies develop these drugs and the Food and Drug Administration approves them. In our final session a few cases will be presented so the participants can see how a rheumatologist can take a history and do a physical examination to diagnose a patient, and some of the limitations of "tests".

Dr. Sigal, MD, FACP, FACR, MACR is a Board-certified rheumatologist with extensive research and clinical experience. Previously the Chief of the Division of Rheumatology at RW Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ, he has worked for BMS, NovoNordisk, and PAREXEL in study design and drug development. For the last 6 years Dr. Sigal has been an independent consultant in biotech, working with small to medium sized companies in early clinical development of monoclonal antibodies and CAR-T cells (both of which will be explained adequately in our first two sessions).

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