Question: what inspired you to learn more about ankylosing spondylitis?

Well, I was looking for a research project as an undergraduate student. I liked a lot of different kinds of science, and I couldn’t decide exactly what my project should be about. Two of my uncles actually have ankylosing spondylitis, so I interviewed for a research project in that area. I found it really interesting, and I had a really great boss, so I kept working in that area after I finished my bachelors degree. I’ve been working on AS for 3 years now, and I really enjoy it. I think that there is a huge opportunity to contribute to the field, as we still know relatively little about the disease.

Because AS can be inherited, I had my genes tested to see if I was at risk of developing it. Fortunately I’m not, but my cousins still are. So for me, that’s extra motivation to study this disease, that personal connection.