Vinod Chandran

DR. VINOD CHANDRAN

Vinod Chandran MBBS MD DM PhD, a Rheumatologist and clinician-scientist, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine & Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto, and affiliate scientist at the Krembil Research Institute, a staff physician at the University Health Network and Mount Sinai Hospitals and an associate member of the graduate faculty at the Institute of Medical Science. He co-directs the Psoriatic Arthritis Program at the University Health Network. Dr. Chandran’s research interests lie in the genetic and molecular epidemiology of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, especially with respect to prognosis.

Vinod’s current translational research program is focused on developing a proteomic and metabolomics-based screening and prognostic tool for psoriatic arthritis, a potentially debilitating inflammatory arthritis, as well as identifying and reducing barriers to multidisciplinary care of patients with psoriatic arthritis. His bench research aims to identify mechanisms underlying inflammation and joint damage in psoriatic arthritis, and developing novel topical and systemic psoriasis therapies.

Vinod has published 144 journal articles, 2 books and 7 book chapters, and has an H-index of 33 - his work on genetics, classification criteria and soluble biomarkers being the most cited. His current research is supported by research grants from the Canadian Rheumatology Association, International League of Associations for Rheumatology, The Arthritis Foundation and the Krembil Foundation.

Vinod’s leadership in this field is clearly demonstrated at the international, national and provincial fronts. At the international level, he is spearheading a study to identify soluble markers for joint damage in PsA- the PsA BIODAM study. He is also leading an international effort to adapt published PsA treatment recommendations for resource poor settings. He is an elected member of the GRAPPA steering committee and chairs its membership committee. Nationally, he is a member of the Canadian Rheumatology Association’s Research Committees. Provincially, he is a member of the Ontario Rheumatology Association board of directors and leads its Uveitis working group that was recently successful in obtaining approval from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care for a number of systemic agents for the management of ocular inflammatory diseases.