Scleroderma (or systemic sclerosis) is a life-threatening chronic autoimmune disease characterized by excessive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Interstitial lung disease is the leading cause of scleroderma-related mortality. The goal of my research program is to identify risk factors for progressive lung disease and to evaluate the role of therapies in the prevention of progression, especially in the early phases of disease when lung function is still normal. I am also interested in evaluating the early phases of scleroderma (“pre-scleroderma”) and early scleroderma cardiac involvement. My research projects use clinical and biological data from national scleroderma registries and explore the role of novel radiological technologies to evaluate early pulmonary and cardiac involvement.