Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria for Rheumatology Patients: * Patients ≥18 years old with a diagnosis of a rheumatic autoimmune disease including, but not limited to: adult onset Still's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, antiphospholipid syndrome, Behcet's disease, dermatomyositis, giant cell arteritis, mixed connective tissue disease, polymyalgia rheumatica, polymyositis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, undifferentiated connective tissue disease and vasculitis. * Receiving clinical care at Yale Rheumatology clinics Exclusion Criteria for Rheumatology Patients: * Unable to provide informed consent * No patients will be excluded based on gender or ethnicity or pregnancy status. * Women who are currently pregnant will need to wait to donate a skin biopsy until after they deliver. * Patients allergic to lidocaine or epinephrine or have a history of impaired wound healing will not be able to donate a skin biopsy. Inclusion Criteria for Healthy Volunteers: * Age ≥ 18 years old * No chronic skin conditions * No diagnosis of a rheumatic autoimmune disease (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis) * Normal BMI Exclusion Criteria for Healthy Volunteers: * Unable to provide informed consent. * Currently pregnant or nursing unless the study goal is to study pregnant or nursing woman. * Allergies to lidocaine or epinephrine (skin biopsies). * A history of impaired wound healing (skin biopsies).