Roberto Caricchio

Roberto Caricchio, MD is a Professor and holds the Myles J. McDonough Chair in Rheumatology at UMass Chan Medical School. He serves in multiple capacities across the institution, including in the Department of Medicine (Division of Rheumatology) at the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, and in several departments within the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences including Immunology and Microbiology Program, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, MD/PhD Program, and Translational Science.

Dr. Caricchio received his MD from Catholic University in Rome, Italy. His extensive academic career has focused on rheumatology and autoimmune diseases, particularly Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

Dr. Caricchio's research primarily centers on the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, with special emphasis on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. His work explores the mechanisms of cytokine storms, the role of bacterial infections in triggering autoimmunity, and the immunological basis of lupus nephritis. Recent research has expanded to include the intersection of autoimmune diseases and COVID-19, examining how viral infections can exacerbate autoimmune conditions and studying vaccine responses in immunosuppressed patients. His publication record demonstrates a strong focus on translational research, with numerous studies bridging basic immunological mechanisms to clinical applications. Recent work has particularly emphasized the role of bacterial biofilms, curli/DNA complexes, and endogenous retroviruses in lupus pathogenesis, as well as innovative therapeutic approaches including CAR T cell therapy for autoimmune conditions.

Dr. Caricchio has collaborated extensively with researchers across multiple institutions, contributing to significant advancements in understanding autoimmune mechanisms and developing novel treatment approaches for lupus and related conditions.

His work has been supported by various research grants, though specific funding sources are not detailed in the provided information. He has mentored numerous students and researchers through his roles in graduate programs, though specific names of advisees are not provided in the current data.

Dr. Caricchio's laboratory and research team focus on understanding the immunological mechanisms underlying lupus and other autoimmune diseases, with particular attention to the role of bacterial triggers, cytokine networks, and sex differences in disease manifestation.