Translational Autoinflammatory Diseases Section
Established in 2016
Sara Alehashemi, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Research Physician (Rheumatologist)
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Specialty(s): Internal Medicine Provides direct clinical care to patients at NIH Clinical Center
Major Areas of Research
- Study pathogenesis and immune-dysregulatory mechanisms of interleukin (IL)-1-mediated autoinflammatory diseases including NOMID, DIRA, and the IL-1/IL-18-mediated disease NLRC4-MAS
- Study pathogenesis and immune-dysregulatory mechanisms of Type I interferon (IFN)-mediated autoinflammatory diseases including CANDLE and SAVI
- Identify molecular and genetic causes (using next-generation sequencing methods) of yet undifferentiated autoinflammatory diseases
- Translate the knowledge gained from the pathogenesis evaluations into finding drug targets for better treatment approaches
- Implement pilot treatment studies with targeted therapeutics to evaluate efficacy (control of organ inflammation and prevention of organ damage) and drug safety
Program Description
Dr. Alehashemi is a rheumatologist and clinical researcher who specializes in autoinflammatory diseases. Currently serving as the director of the Autoinflammatory Diseases Clinic, she leads the clinical team within the Inflammatory Disease Section at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Beyond her clinical endeavors, Dr. Alehashemi remains deeply committed to advancing the field of rheumatology through her research pursuits and academic contributions. With her extensive training, unwavering dedication, and leadership at the Autoinflammatory Diseases Clinic, Dr. Alehashemi ensures that patients with both established and novel autoinflammatory conditions receive exemplary care. She has played a significant role in the discovery and characterization of new autoinflammatory diseases and in pursuing effective targeted therapies for these patients.
Biography
Education
M.D., 2005, Hormozgan University, Iran
M.P.H., 2018, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Languages Spoken
FarsiDr. Alehashemi began her medical journey in Iran, where she earned her medical degree in 2005. Following her passion for clinical research, she pursued further training in the United Kingdom before establishing herself in the United States. She completed her internal medicine residency at the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital. Subsequently, she specialized in rheumatology at the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal, and Skin Diseases, achieving certification in 2018.
Dr. Alehashemi's research is centered on a systematic approach to the clinical and immunological investigation of autoinflammatory diseases, utilizing targeted interventions to clarify the role of specific inflammatory pathways in their pathogenesis. Dr. Alehashemi has become increasingly recognized as a leader in the field of autoinflammation and has presented her work at national and international meetings.
Clinical Studies
Selected Publications
Nasr SH, Alehashemi S, Dasari S, Waldman M, Afzali B, Chiu A, Bolanos J, Goldbach-Mansky R, McPhail ED. Anakinra-associated renal amyloidosis. Kidney Int. 2024 Feb;105(2):395-396.
Alehashemi S, Dasari S, Metpally A, Uss K, Castelo-Soccio LA, Heller T, Kellman P, Chen MY, Ahlman M, Kim J, Wargo S, Kuhns DB, Fink D, de Jesus A, Martin PS, Chang R, Bolanos J, Lee CR, Nasr SH, Goldbach-Mansky R, McPhail E. Anakinra-Associated Systemic Amyloidosis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2024 Jan;76(1):100-106.
de Jesus AA, Chen G, Yang D, Brdicka T, Ruth NM, Bennin D, Cebecauerova D, Malcova H, Freeman H, Martin N, Svojgr K, Passo MH, Bhuyan F, Alehashemi S, Rastegar AT, Uss K, Kardava L, Marrero B, Duric I, Omoyinmi E, Peldova P, Lee CR, Kleiner DE, Hadigan CM, Hewitt SM, Pittaluga S, Carmona-Rivera C, Calvo KR, Shah N, Balascakova M, Fink DL, Kotalova R, Parackova Z, Peterkova L, Kuzilkova D, Campr V, Sramkova L, Biancotto A, Brooks SR, Manes C, Meffre E, Harper RL, Kuehn H, Kaplan MJ, Brogan P, Rosenzweig SD, Merchant M, Deng Z, Huttenlocher A, Moir SL, Kuhns DB, Boehm M, Skvarova Kramarzova K, Goldbach-Mansky R. Constitutively active Lyn kinase causes a cutaneous small vessel vasculitis and liver fibrosis syndrome. Nat Commun. 2023 Mar 17;14(1):1502.
Alehashemi S, Ward MM. Risk of Hematologic Malignancies in Elderly Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Cohort Study and Systematic Review. Mayo Clin Proc. 2023 Jan;98(1):100-110.
Alehashemi S, Dasari S, de Jesus AA, Cowen EW, Lee CR, Goldbach-Mansky R, McPhail ED. Anakinra-Associated Amyloidosis. JAMA Dermatol. 2022 Dec 1;158(12):1454-1457.
Romano M, Arici ZS, Piskin D, Alehashemi S, Aletaha D, Barron KS, Benseler S, Berard R, Broderick L, Dedeoglu F, Diebold M, Durrant KL, Ferguson P, Foell D, Hausmann J, Jones OY, Kastner DL, Lachmann HJ, Laxer RM, Rivera D, Ruperto N, Simon A, Twilt M, Frenkel J, Hoffman H, de Jesus AA, Kuemmerle-Deschner JB, Ozen S, Gattorno M, Goldbach-Mansky R, Demirkaya E. The 2021 EULAR/American College of Rheumatology points to consider for diagnosis, management and monitoring of the interleukin-1 mediated autoinflammatory diseases: cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes, tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome, mevalonate kinase deficiency, and deficiency of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist. Ann Rheum Dis. 2022 Jul;81(7):907-921.
Research Networks
Translational Autoinflammatory Research Network (TARN)
Translational Autoinflammatory Research Initiative (TARI)
International Society of Systemic Auto-Inflammatory Diseases (ISSAID)