Saira Sheikh, MD LuCIN Chair

Dr. Saira Sheikh is the Linda Coley Sewell Distinguished Professor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Sheikh is a nationally renowned physician, researcher, clinical trials investigator and educator. She is trained, and triple board certified in Internal Medicine, Rheumatology and Allergy/Immunology. She is the Director of the Clinical Trials Program at the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center, and the UNC Rheumatology Lupus Clinic. Her work focuses on answering scientific questions that directly impact the care of patients with complex immunologic diseases, focused on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Her projects apply an integrated approach of research, teaching, and clinical practice to advance team science through clinical trials, basic and translational research collaborations, and community-based studies. She is Principal Investigator on numerous clinical trials for new therapeutics, as well as Principal Investigator on translational projects focused on understanding the development of biomarkers in autoimmune disease. Dr. Sheikh leads real-world, practical models to increase access and opportunities for patients to participate in lupus clinical trials. She is also the lead investigator of a large, federally funded project focused on utilizing machine learning models/AI for earlier diagnosis of lupus entitled Automated Reasoning and Interpretation for Early Lupus detection.

At UNC, Dr. Sheikh co-founded and co-leads the Chapel Hill Alliance Promoting Excellence in Lupus (CHAPEL), a multidisciplinary collaborative research group that works closely on translational and clinical research with a focus on improving knowledge, management practices, and patient outcomes in lupus, particularly lupus nephritis. She also leads the UNC Lupus Multidisciplinary CAR-T and Cell Therapy Group.

Dr. Sheikh has an outstanding reputation for her expertise amongst patients and colleagues across the institution and nationally and patients travel from around the country to see her in the clinic. She also currently serves on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR’s) Board of Directors.

She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (FAAAAI), the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (FACAAI), the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), and of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).