Gal Hodish studies inflammatory arthritis, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, which is a painful and chronic condition where the body's immune system attacks the joints. His research highlights the role of a protein called CD13 that can leak into the bloodstream and exacerbate inflammation in the joints by activating a receptor known as B1R. By investigating how this process works, he aims to find new ways to block this receptor using drugs, providing a targeted treatment that minimizes the impact on the rest of the immune system.
Key findings
CD13 leaks into the bloodstream and activates the B1R receptor, leading to increased inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Blocking the B1R receptor with drugs significantly reduced inflammation in human tissue samples.
Mouse models treated with B1R blockers showed a marked decrease in arthritic symptoms.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Hodish study rheumatoid arthritis?
Yes, Dr. Hodish focuses on rheumatoid arthritis and its underlying mechanisms.
What treatments has Dr. Hodish researched?
He has researched the potential of blocking the B1R receptor as a new treatment for inflammatory arthritis.
Is Dr. Hodish's work relevant to patients with other inflammatory diseases?
Yes, his research on B1R may also apply to other inflammatory conditions beyond rheumatoid arthritis.
Publications in plain English
Rapid Induction of Remission With Upadacitinib Followed by Cytomegalovirus Colitis in a Hospitalized Patient With Crohn's Disease.
2026
ACG case reports journal
Herran R, Wilcox S, Hodish G, Nusrat A, Shi J +10 more
Plain English Researchers studied a 60-year-old woman with severe Crohn's disease who quickly improved after being treated with a high dose of upadacitinib, a medication not typically used for her condition. However, her health worsened, and she had to undergo surgery, where doctors found that she had a different issue—cytomegalovirus colitis—rather than her Crohn's being hard to treat as previously thought. This finding highlights the need for careful monitoring in patients with Crohn's disease, as they may have other underlying conditions that affect treatment outcomes.
Who this helps: This research benefits patients with Crohn's disease and their healthcare providers.
Evaluation of a virtual reality-directed brain-gut behavioural treatment inpatient program for patients with inflammatory bowel disease: protocol for a pilot feasibility trial.
2025
BMJ open
Gutermuth B, Jordan A, Hodish G, Sturgeon JA, DeJonckheere M +5 more
Plain English This study examined a new program using virtual reality (VR) to help manage pain for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) while they are in the hospital. Researchers will work with 40 patients to see if they find the VR therapy helpful and how it affects their pain and mood before and after treatment. The hope is that this program could reduce the need for strong pain medications like opioids and improve the hospital experience for these patients.
Who this helps: This helps patients with inflammatory bowel disease who experience pain during hospital stays.
Reddit as a Social Media Self-Management Tool for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Qualitative Analysis.
2025
Journal of medical Internet research
Adeyemi T, Gutermuth B, Hodish G, Berinstein J, Newman K +6 more
Plain English This study looked at how people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) use Reddit to share their experiences and find support. Researchers analyzed 659 posts from specific subreddits and found that 31% of these were original posts while the rest were replies. They discovered that patients often seek information, advice, and emotional support on topics like symptoms, medication, healthcare challenges, diets, and mental health issues, highlighting the need for better care in traditional healthcare settings.
Who this helps: This research benefits patients with IBD by showing how they can use social media for support and understanding.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Self-Care Behaviors in Context of Psychosocial Factors.
2025
Digestive diseases and sciences
Anders-Rumsey J, Kasmikha L, Chiang M, Hodish G, Sheehan J +6 more
Plain English This study looked at how people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) manage their condition through behaviors like monitoring symptoms, adapting their activities, and maintaining their health. They found that patients with higher confidence in managing their condition tended to monitor their symptoms more regularly. Additionally, those experiencing more severe disease symptoms often changed their activities, like avoiding certain social situations or planning trips around restroom access. This is important because it shows that providing tailored support to patients, especially during tough times, could improve their ability to manage IBD effectively.
Who this helps: This helps patients with IBD and their healthcare providers.
Soluble CD13 induces inflammatory arthritis by activating the bradykinin receptor B1.
2022
The Journal of clinical investigation
Tsou PS, Lu C, Gurrea-Rubio M, Muraoka S, Campbell PL +26 more
Plain English Researchers discovered that a protein called CD13, which leaks into the bloodstream, causes inflammatory arthritis by activating a receptor called B1R found on joint cells. They confirmed this by showing that blocking B1R with drugs stopped the inflammation in multiple types of arthritis in mice and in human joint tissue samples.
This matters because B1R could be a new drug target to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases by preventing CD13 from triggering joint inflammation.