Maria E. Suarez-Almazor

Maria E. Suarez-Almazor is the Barnts Family Distinguished Professor at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Her research focuses on clinical rheumatology, specifically the intersection of autoimmune diseases and cancer therapeutics. She investigates the management of immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated inflammatory arthritis, including the impact of glucocorticoids on cancer progression, and evaluates survival outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and concurrent malignancies receiving biologics like TNF inhibitors. Her recent work also explores telemedicine for under-resourced systemic lupus erythematosus patients and cardiovascular risks in melanoma immunotherapy. Published in venues such as *The Lancet Rheumatology* and *Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases*, her research bridges oncology and immunology to optimize care for complex patient populations.