Catalina Sanchez Alvarez

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SUMMARY

Catalina Sanchez Alvarez, M.D., is a rheumatologist and clinical investigator specializing in systemic vasculitis and autoimmune diseases. She has played a key role in international collaborations to develop new response criteria for giant cell arteritis, a form of large-vessel vasculitis. Her work focuses on improving early disease diagnosis, disease characterization, treatment response and long-term outcomes for patients with complex autoimmune conditions.

Focus areas

• Vasculitis research and response criteria. Dr. Sanchez Alvarez participates in an international group that develops response criteria for use in clinical trials and real-world settings to enhance disease assessment and therapeutic outcomes.
• Predictive analytics in autoimmune disease. As part of the National Institutes of Health-funded Predictive Analytics via Networked Distributed Algorithms Consortium, Dr. Sanchez Alvarez collaborates on the development of predictive tools that leverage electronic health record data to identify patients at risk of rare autoimmune diseases. This work supports earlier intervention and aims to improve long-term outcomes.

Significance to patient care

Dr. Sanchez Alvarez's research helps improve how healthcare professionals find and treat complex autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. She works with experts from around the world to create tools that help doctors better measure vasculitis activity and choose the right treatments. She also works with other researchers to use electronic health records to spot these conditions earlier. This can lead to faster care and better long-term health for patients.

Professional highlights

• National Institutes of Health:
  • Subinvestigator, Predictive Analytics via Networked Distributed Algorithms Consortium, 2023-present.
  • Subinvestigator, Sequenced Strategy for Improving Outcomes in People with Knee Osteoarthritis Pain, Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative, 2020-2022.
• American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology:
  • Member, Steering Committee, Task Force for the Development of Response Criteria in Giant Cell Arteritis, 2020-present.
  • Lead, Systematic Literature Review, Task Force for the Development of Response Criteria in Giant Cell Arteritis, 2020-present.