Arthritis Research Canada, Senior Scientist, Dr. Antonio Aviña-Zubieta Appointed Head of the UBC Division of Rheumatology
January 7, 2022 (Vancouver) – Arthritis Research Canada is proud to announce the recent appointment of Senior Scientist, Dr. Antonio Aviña-Zubieta, as the Head of the Division of Rheumatology at the University of British Columbia. The appointment will go into effect July 1, 2022.
The position is responsible for the development and coordination of the entire Division, which is made up of programs located at all of UBC’s teaching hospitals. Dr. Aviña-Zubieta will be tasked with leading the Division of Rheumatology in its Provincial focus on clinical care, education and research – for a term of five years.
In addition to his role with Arthritis Research Canada, Dr. Aviña-Zubieta is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, at the University of British Columbia, the BC Lupus Society Research Scholar, and the Walter and Marilyn Booth Research Scholar.
Dr. Aviña-Zubieta is a world leader in using administrative health data to answer key questions about the long-term benefits and safety of medications used to treat rheumatic diseases. He is leading studies that include evaluating the risk and outcomes of COVID-19 infection in patients with autoimmune diseases exposed to immunosuppressive medications; evaluating the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in the same patient population; evaluating the risk of toxicity to the eyes associated with the use of hydroxychloroquine in rheumatoid arthritis and in lupus; evaluating the risk of multiple sclerosis associated with the use of anti-TNF agents, the most commonly used class of biologic medications in rheumatoid arthritis.
His research programs at Arthritis Research Canada support the training and mentoring of our next generation of research scientists – for Dr. Aviña-Zubieta this includes three PhD, one Master’s and three undergraduate students.
“It is an honour to have been appointed to this important role and I look forward to officially assuming the duties in July. As the Head of UBC’s Division of Rheumatology, I hope to recruit and train new scientists, as well as support our current scientists, to continue the important research and clinical work of my predecessors, Dr. John Esdaile and Dr. Kam Shojania,” says Dr. Aviña-Zubieta.
In the interim, responsibility for the position will be held by Arthritis Research Canada’s Scientific Director, Dr. Diane Lacaille.
For more information, https://www.arthritisresearch.ca/antonio-avina-zubieta/
