Description:

Seminar: 10:30 - 11:30am
Q&A/Discussion: 1:00 - 2:00pm

Yvonne C Lee, MD, MMSc
Solovy/Arthritis Research Society Research Professor
Associate Professor of Medicine (Rheumatology) and Preventive Medicine
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Pain is the most common presenting complaint in primary care and rheumatology practices. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) identify pain as one of the most important factors that affect their quality of life. Despite advances in treatment that have significantly improved disease control, pain continues to be a large burden for many patients with RA. Pain in RA has been classically understood as a consequence of inflammation acting on peripheral nociceptors. However, recent observations have expanded the understanding of pain in RA to include a role for central nervous system (CNS) modulation of pain perception, termed “central sensitization”. It is hypothesized that peripheral and/or systemic inflammation may lead to central sensitization. In some cases, central sensitization may also persist despite neutralization of inflammation. Greater understanding of the role of CNS pain modulation is needed because patients with pain driven by central sensitization may require adjunctive treatments, such as centrally acting agents or cognitive behavioral therapy, rather than escalating and/or changing immunosuppressive therapy.

In this presentation, Dr. Lee will go over methods of phenotyping pain in patients with inflammatory arthritis, such as RA. She will also review the evidence for CNS pain modulation in patients with RA, as well as discuss potential risk factors for the development of dysregulated CNS pain modulation in this patient population.

Dr. Lee is an Associate Professor of Medicine (Rheumatology) and Preventive Medicine. She is a board-certified rheumatologist and trained clinical investigator with a Masters in Medical Science. She is recognized nationally and internationally as an expert on pain in rheumatic diseases, having presented 6 invited lectures at international meetings, in addition to over 30 invited lectures at national meetings and academic institutions around the country. From 2012-2017, Dr. Lee was the Director of Pain Research in the Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She was subsequently recruited to Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 2018 and received an endowed chair as the Solovy/Arthritis Research Society Research Professor. She has a strong history of NIH-funding, having received a K23 in 2009, followed by an R01 in 2013. This R01 grant was successfully renewed in 2020. She has also received grants from the Rheumatology Research Foundation and multiple industry sources. In addition, Dr. Lee has authored 53 peer-reviewed original investigations, including 19 first author publications and 11 last author publications.

Dr. Lee’s research focuses on identifying and characterizing the inflammatory and neural mechanisms of pain in rheumatic diseases. She is the Principal Investigator of the NIH-funded Central Pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis study. She is also at the forefront of research examining the role of mobile technology for the assessment of pain and other patient reported outcomes in RA. In addition, Dr. Lee has a strong history of mentoring, having mentored 22 individuals, from the ranks of college student to assistant professor. She also serves as Director of the NUCATS Succeeding with Your K Award series, an interactive peer-mentoring seminar series.  

In summary, Dr. Lee is an expert on pain pathways in patients with rheumatic diseases. She has a track record for success, as evidenced by continuous grant funding, peer-reviewed manuscripts, and invited talks. She also enjoys mentoring trainees, both one-on-one, as well as through CTSA-based training programs.