My long-term research goal is to identify factors that enhance response and minimize toxicity to drugs used for the treatment of diseases in children, focusing on an individualized therapeutic strategy. My current translational research focuses on methotrexate and its effect upon the folate pathway, utilizing cellular biomarkers and genetic differences to predict drug efficacy and minimize toxicity in JIA. My work has expanded through key collaborations, to include a mouse model for experimental validation of the work, novel cytokine biomarkers including Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), biologic therapeutic drug monitoring in JIA and IBD, and exploration of the folate pathway in patients with Down syndrome.