Anca D. Askanase, MD

Dr. Anca Dinu Askanase is the Chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Rheumatology at HSS. A world-renowned rheumatologist and clinical researcher, Dr. Askanase has dedicated more than 20 years to the study and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other complex autoimmune disorders, including Sjogren’s syndrome, vasculitis, and dermatomyositis.

Dr. Askanase is a pioneer in the development of advanced therapeutics. She is at the forefront of cell therapy research for autoimmune diseases, serving as the Principal Investigator for several CAR-T lupus programs and leading investigator-initiated studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CAR-NK cell therapies.

Her research is built on three primary pillars:

• Epidemiology: Utilizing large-scale cohort and registry studies to characterize disease phenotypes and understand comorbidities.
• Outcomes Research: Developing objective diagnostic instruments and biomarkers—such as the LFA-Rapid Evaluation of Activity in Lupus (LFA-REALM)—to more accurately track disease activity and define treatment response.
• Clinical Trials: Expanding the landscape of treatment options through robust participation in industry and NIH-sponsored trials.

A highly collaborative leader, Dr. Askanase is an active member of the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) and the Lupus Clinical Investigators’ Network (LuCIN). Her ongoing projects include the use of optical imaging to evaluate lupus arthritis, the development of virtual disease activity measures for clinical research, and community outreach to disparate populations in New York City.

Prior to joining HSS, Dr. Askanase was a Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where she founded and directed the Columbia Lupus Center. She earned her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Carol Davila in Bucharest, Romania followed by a Residency at St Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center. She continued with her rheumatology fellowship at NYU/Hospital for Joint Diseases and Master in Public Health at Columbia University.