Dennis McGonagle is Deputy Director of the Leeds Institute of Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Medicine.  He has elucidated the pathogenesis of seronegative inflammatory diseases and defined the central role of the enthesis in joint pathology, including the cytokine-mediated enthesitis theory of synovitis in seronegative spondyloarthropathies in 1998 and the “soft tissue ligamentitis” theory of axial PsA in 2023 (Nat Rev Rheum). He has developed the modern immunological disease-continuum classification of inflammation against self and the MHC-1-opathy concept of SpA associated disease. Professor McGonagle’s group has defined normal human enthesis innate and adaptive immunity, including ILCs, MAITs and gd-T cells in addition to enthesis resident conventional T cells and macrophage and neutrophils with inducible IL-23 protein expression. His other interest is the use of native joint resident mesenchymal stem cells for osteoarthritis therapy development. During the COVID-19 pandemic he published a series of papers in the Lancet journals on COVID-19 immunothrombosis and pathogenesis. Professor McGonagle has served on the editorial boards of Arthritis & Rheumatology and Annals of Rheumatic Diseases. He was a member of the Scientific Committee of The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR), Chair and Co-Chair of two EULAR task forces and a member of the UK Medical Research Council Population and Systems Medicine Board (MRC PSMB). Professor McGonagle has won international prizes for his work, including the Verna Wright Lecture (2018), the Pemberton Lecture Award from the Philadelphia Rheumatism Society (2018), and the Royal Academy of Medicine (Bioengineering) Medal (2019) and the Carol Nachman Prize (2023).

I am a rheumatologist and clinical scientist deeply committed to patient care and translational research with a dedicated focus on SLE and lupus nephritis. In the clinic, I lead the outpatient clinic for SLE patients and systemic connective tissue diseases and work as rheumatologist consultant for other Departments in the Hospital. I hold continuous multidisciplinary interactions with colleagues from other fields e.g. nephrologists and pulmonologists aimed at harmonizing the approach to our patients and at integrating the latest advancements in rheumatology to deliver the best possible care. My academic background includes a Ph.D. and post-doctoral experience conducted in specialized centers abroad (Charité hospital Berlin and Gothenburg University in Sweden) where I focused on the study of B cell abnormalities in SLE, LN as well as other autoimmune conditions, gaining skills in laboratory research including flow-cytometry, cell culturing and stimulation and RNA extraction; besides, my group and I have been focusing on the role of circulating microvesicles in spreading autoantigens in inflammatory myositis. I have been awarded with scientific funding for research, including the Lorenzo Re prize by the Italian SLE patients association (2020), the Stiftelsen Professor Nanna Svartz funding, Sweden (2021), the PRIN – National Italian Research Project award (2022). I recognize the importance of collaboration in the scientific community and am fortunate to maintain connections with colleagues around the world, which leads to a continuous enrichment in knowledge and to fruitful cooperations resulting in joint research projects and exchange of younger fellows/students between our academic centers. In essence, my journey in patient care and research always brought me at the intersection of clinical practice and scientific exploration, constantly learning and endeavouring to contributing to research especially in the field of SLE and LN. My ultimate goal is to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals dealing with lupus and connective tissue diseases, and to extend my fondness to younger fellows.

Prof. Gleb SLOBODIN is one of Israel’s most sought-after rheumatologists. His name is well known in the medical international community. Total experience in the profession – more than 30 years. Gleb Slobodin is rightfully considered an expert in the treatment of rheumatologic diseases, his authoritative opinion is listened to by colleagues not only in Israel, but also far beyond its borders. The physician specializes in the study and therapy of a wide range of conditions: arthritis, inflammatory bone and muscle diseases, systemic autoimmune diseases, systemic inflammatory diseases, and others. Gleb Slobodin is well educated. He began training for the profession back in Russia, at the Omsk State Medical Institute, where he graduated with honors. After moving to Israel, he completed his residency at the Faculty of Medicine, Technion University Haifa. Trained in the field of rheumatology in the largest clinics in Israel and America. Today Gleb Slobodin is a professor of medicine and conducts serious research work in the field of the latest therapies for rheumatologic diseases. Also of great professional interest to the physician is the field of clinical and laboratory research in the area of novel biologic drugs. He publishes the results of his research in specialized medical publications and is the author of more than 80 scientific articles and monographs. Fluent in 3 languages: Russian, English and Hebrew.