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Cristina Padilla MS, MD

    Education & Training

  • BS - Baylor University, Waco, TX
  • MS - Boston University, Boston, MA
  • MD - University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX
  • Internal Medicine Residency - University of Rochester/Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, NY
  • Rheumatology Fellowship - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Research Summary

I investigate lymphocytes in systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). My focus is on natural killer cells, utilizing both controlled experiments and computational bioinformatics to elucidate their role in the pathogenesis of ILD and lung fibrosis.

Career Goals

To become a successfully independent physician-scientist in translational scleroderma research. I am ultimately interested in finding novel targets that effectively treatment complications of scleroderma (e.g. interstitial lung disease, skin disease, etc)