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Introduction
On the ground of the first research center on autoimmunity in Islamic Republic of Iran, the Autoimmune Diseases Research Center of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (ADRC-SUMS) is founded as a non-profit organization dedicated to:
1- Performing advance clinical and basic research to improve the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases.
2- Providing the new modalities of treatment and evaluate them for patients.
3- Preparing and providing DNA and serum bank along with demographic databank of different autoimmune diseases for interested researchers.
Collaborating departments
1- Basic scientist from different departments (including immunology and biochemistry) are engaged in fundamental research on the immune response study, the causes and
mechanisms of immune system dysregulation leading to autoimmune diseases. The other goal is identifying auto-antigens which are targeted by the immune system in order
develop new diagnostic and immunotherapeutical modalities for autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, they are seeking out the genetic traits that increase the risk of
developing to an autoimmune disease.
2- Clinicians from different clinical departments (Rheumatology, Neurology, Dermatology and Ophthalmology) are searching for methods to improve the diagnosis and treatment
of related autoimmune diseases. Moreover, they are actively engaged in preparing the databanks for autoimmune diseases.
Research areas and projects
1- Developing database for different autoimmune diseases including:
a) Rheumatologic diseases:
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE )
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Scleroderma
- Behcet
b) Neurological diseases:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Myasthenia Gravis (MG)
C) Dermatological Diseases:
- Different clinical forms of Pemphigus
- Psoriasis
- Vitiligo
2- Candidate gene studies to explore autoimmune diseases susceptibility genes
3- Determination of new auto-antigens by different techniques such as immuno-proteomics.
4- Evaluation of new medicines in treatment of different autoimmune diseases.
5- Study the effects of herbal medicines on cellular components of immune system in different autoimmune diseases using in vitro experimental models.
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