As a group, the 80-odd autoimmune diseases exhibit marked bias in incidence, prevalence and disease course in men and women. We do not understand this disparity, which has changed over time and which is largely ignored. In this talk, I will review what data currently exist in humans, and outline a strategy based on human genetics, genomics, and immunology to uncover the biology underlying this dramatic difference between men and women.

Chris Cotsapas studies the genetics of autoimmune and neurological disease. He has developed methods to perform, interpret and translate genetic studies of disease into pathobiological and mechanistic understanding. More recently, he has shifted focus to address the marked differences observed in incidence and clinical course of autoimmune diseases.