Connective Tissue Disease Research Group
What Are Connective Tissue Diseases?
Connective tissue disease (CTD) is an umbrella term for over 200 diseases that affect the body's connective tissues. These tissues include skin, fat, bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, etc. They are needed to cover and protect your internal organs as well as protecting other essential tissues such as nerves and muscle fibers.
As these tissues are found everywhere in the body, connective tissue diseases can also affect nearly every part of the body, causing symptoms including:
- Joint Pain
- Fatigue
- Shortness of Breath
One of the most common mechanisms for connective tissue diseases is autoimmunity, where the body's own immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, causing widespread damage and inflammation. This causes pain, swelling, and permanent damage.
Our labs specialize in:
- Lupus
- Myositis
- Scleroderma
The Connective Tissue Disease Research Group is committed to revolutionizing autoimmune care through cutting-edge research, comprehensive biobanking, advanced imaging, and international collaboration.
Partner With Us
Autoimmune diseases affect millions of Canadians.
With your help, we can:
- Improve early detection
- Develop more effective treatments
- Support patients and families
- Train the next generation of specialists
Artificial Intelligence Autoimmune Diagnostics Lab
The AI.Dx Lab is transforming autoimmune care through cutting-edge research that identifies early biomarkers and personalizes treatment. By combining AI with collaborative expertise, we’re working to improve diagnosis and management for patients, especially those in underserved communities, providing them with better access to timely and effective care.
University of Calgary Myositis Research Group
The Myositis Research Group at the University of Calgary studies inflammatory muscle diseases including dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and inclusion body myositis. Through clinical research, biobanking, and biomarker studies, we aim to improve diagnosis, disease monitoring, treatment, and long term outcomes for people living with myositis.
Autoimmune Precision Laboratory
Led by Dr. Maggie Larché, the Autoimmune Precision Laboratory advances precision medicine for systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). By studying blood, tissue, and skin samples from patients and healthy controls, the lab investigates the cells, proteins, genes, and pathways driving inflammation, tissue damage, and fibrosis. This work aims to identify biomarkers, predict treatment response, discover new therapeutic targets, and support earlier diagnosis, personalized care, and improved outcomes. Philanthropic support will help expand recruitment, biobanking, testing, and translational research.
