Description of Research Expertise

Dr. Rhee’s research program spans clinical and translational studies in humans that seek to understand disease pathogenesis and disease heterogeneity of multiple types of autoimmune vasculitis. Currently her research focuses on the investigation of the airway epithelium and microbiome in vasculitis and the identification of novel biomarkers in vasculitis.

Dr. Rhee led the development of a biorepository of nasal swab samples from patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis, relapsing polychondritis, and healthy patients. This work combines both advanced molecular sequencing with culture-based approaches to understanding how changes in the epithelium and microbes interact with the immune system in autoimmune vasculitis.

Dr. Rhee is also part of a multi-disciplinary team that is studying the utility of vessel wall MRI in giant cell arteritis. She works with investigators in radiology and ophthalmology to develop novel imaging biomarkers for diagnosis and disease activity in giant cell arteritis. Dr. Rhee co-led the development of the Penn Giant Cell Arteritis Fast-Track Program.

Selected Publications

Rhee RL, Rebello R, Tamhankar M, Banerjee S, Liu F, Cao Q, Kurtz R, Baker JF, Fan Z, Bhatt V, Amudala N, Chou S, Liang R, Burke M, Desiderio L, Loevner LA, Merkel PA, Song JW: "Combined orbital and cranial vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of disease activity in giant cell arteritis" ACR Open Rheumatology : 2024.

Romich E, Banerjee S, Amudala N, Chou S, Li R, Lee H, Cohen N, Merkel PA, Rhee RL: "Patient-reported sinonasal symptoms and risk of relapse in ANCA-associated vasculitis" Arthritis Care & Research : 2024.

Bloom JL, Pickett-Nairn K, Silveira L, Fuhlbrigge RC, Cuthbertson D, Akuthota P, Corbridge TC, Khalidi NA, Koening CL, Langford CA, McAlear CA, Monach PA, Moreland LW, Pagnoux C, Rhee RL, Seo P, Silver J, Specks U, Warrington KJ, Wechsler ME, Merkel PA: "The Association Between Age at Diagnosis and Disease Characteristics and Damage in Patients with ANCA-Associated Vasculitis" Arthritis Rheumatol 75 (12): 2216-2227,2023.

Beukelman T, Chen L, Annapureddy N, Oates J, Clowse MEB, Long M, Kappelman MD, Rhee RL, Merkel PA, Nowell WB, Xie F, Clinton C, Curtis JR.: "Using pooled electronic health records data to conduct pharmacoepidemiology safety studies: Challenges and lessons learned." Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 32 (9): 969-977,2023.

Smith RM, Jones RB, Specks U, Bond S, Nodale M, Al-Jayyousi R, Andrews J, Bruchfeld A, Camilleri B, Carette S, Cheung CK, Derebail V, Doulton T, Ferraro A, Forbess L, Fujimoto S, Furuta S, Gewurz-Singer O, Harper L, Ito-Ihara T, Khalidi N, Klocke R, Koening C, Komagata Y, Langford C, Lanyon P, Luqmani R, McAlear C, Moreland LW, Mynard K, Nachman P, Pagnoux C, Peh CA, Pusey C, Ranganathan D, Rhee RL, Spiera R, Sreih AG, Tesar V, Walters G, Wroe C, Jayne D, Merkel PA.: "Rituximab versus azathioprine for maintenance of remission for patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis and relapsing disease: an international randomised controlled trial." Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 82 (7): 937-944,2023.

Junek ML, Zhao L, Garner S, Cuthbertson D, Pagnoux C, Koening CL, Langford CA, McAlear CA, Monach PA, Moreland LW, Rhee RL, Seo P, Specks U, Sreih AG, Warrington K, Wechsler ME, Merkel PA, Khalidi NA; Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium: "Ocular manifestations of ANCA-associated vasculitis" Rheumatology 62 (7): 2517-2524,2023.

Beukelman T, Long MD, Rhee RL, Kappelman MD, Merkel PA, Nowell WB, Clinton C, Ringold S, Del Gaizo V, Price B, Shaw DG, Venkatachalam S, Cuthbertson D, Xie F, Zhang X, Curtis JR: "Assessment of Real-World Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients Initiating Biologic Agents for the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases: An Observational Study in Four Patient-Powered Research Networks" Patient Relat Outcome Meas 13 (14): 171-180,2023.

Mayer A, Sperry A, Quimson L, Rhee RL: "Long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes in patients with clinically isolated aortitis" ACR Open Rheumatology 4 (12): 1013-1020,2022.

Arnett N, Pavlou A, Burke MP, Cucchiara BL, Rhee RL, Song JW: "Vessel Wall MR Imaging of Central Nervous System Vasculitis: a Systematic Review" Neuroradiology 64 (1): 43-58,2022.

Willett K, Sreih A, Rhee R, Lee V, Kwong B, Tamhankar MA: "Giant Cell Arteritis Associated with Multiple Cranial Neuropathies" Journal of Clinical Rheumatology 27 (8S): 769-770,2021.

Academic Contact Information

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Dept. of Medicine/Rheumatology
3400 Spruce Street
5th Floor, White Building
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Patient appointments: 800-789-7366