During Scleroderma Awareness Month, we're proud to spotlight Alicia Hinze, MD, MHS, a recipient of the Foundation’s 2022 Investigator Award.

Her innovative research focused on improving outcomes for people living with systemic sclerosis. Dr. Hinze’s project explored using AI-powered imaging to spot early signs of lung disease in people with systemic sclerosis—so doctors can intervene sooner and save lives. Because lung disease is a leading cause of illness and death in scleroderma, advances like these could make a meaningful difference for patients. This research has the potential to: ✨ Identify patients at risk of progressive lung scarring earlier, enabling earlier treatment ✨Support more personalized treatment decisions based on an individual’s disease risk ✨Improve monitoring by helping doctors detect worsening lung disease sooner, preserving lung function and quality of life This #SclerodermaAwarenessMonth, we're celebrating the researchers whose work is advancing the future of care for patients with this complex disease. Watch the full video on the RheumLab. https://bit.ly/46cJip8