October 11, 2001
Elkon named to lead Division of Rheumatology
Dr. Keith B. Elkon became head of the Division of Rheumatology in the UW Department of Medicine Aug. 1. He succeeds Dr. Mart Mannik, who has retired after 35 years of service in the Department of Medicine.
Until his UW appointment, Elkon was on the faculty of Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City. There he was a member and director of the Graduate Program in Immunology and director of the medical college’s Rheumatology Research Program. He also directed the NIH-sponsored Specialized Center in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Elkon’s two main research interests are the genetics of autoimmune diseases, and the possibility that some autoimmune responses may arise from inadequate clearance of dying cells.
This week, Elkon spoke on “Apoptosis in Autoimmunity/Transplantation” at the Nobel Assembly of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. His invited lecture was part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prizes.
