Department of Medicine

University of Pittsburgh

Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
S700 Biomedical Science Tower
3500 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Phone: (412) 383-8000

Mary Chester Wasko, MD, MSc
photo

Associate Professor of Medicine
Office: Arthritis Institute
S700 BST, 3500 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
 
Phone: 412-383-8861
Fax: 412-648-8864
E-mail: wasko@pitt.edu
Education
B.S., Davidson College, 1979
M.D., University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 1983
MSc, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1991
Training
Internship, Geisinger Medical Center, 1985
Residency, Geisinger Medical Center, 1987
Fellowship, University of Michigan, 1991
Area of Specialization/Research Interest  
Cardiovascular Disease in RA
Epidemiology of Malignancies in RA
New Treatments for RA
Medication Adherence in RA
Exercise Patterns in RA
 
Profile
Dr. Wasko’s clinical research has focused on improvement of long-term outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). She directs the University’s participation in a NIH-funded multi-center longitudinal prospective research study on RA and osteoarthritis patients to monitor current practices of the treatment and their relationship to morbidity and mortality secondary to cardiovascular (CV) disease and malignancy. Dr. Wasko currently is employing noninvasive vascular measures and biomarkers of thromboembolic risk in RA women to detect the prevalence and risk of atherosclerosis. Dr. Wasko directs ongoing clinical trials evaluating efficacy and safety of various new investigational agents in RA.
Recent Grants
Title: A Multi-Center Open-Label Continuation Trial of Lymphostat-B Antibody in Subjects with RA Who Completed the Phase 2 Protocol
Role: Prinicpal Investigator
Amount: 48,810
Funding Agency: Human Genome Sciences
Start Year: 2005
End Year: 2007
Title: Treatment with MRA versus Placebo, In Combination with MRA Versus Placebo in Combination with Traditional DMAR Therapy in Patients with Moderate to Severe Active RA& Inadequate Response to Current DMA
Role: Principal Investigator
Amount: 118,150
Funding Agency: Hoffmann-Laroche Inc.
Start Year: 2005
End Year: 2007
Title: A Phase 2, Multi-Center, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose Ranging Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Lymphostat-B Antibody in Subjects with RA
Role: Principal Investigator
Amount: 100,000
Funding Agency: Human Genome Sciences
Start Year: 2004
End Year: 2006
Title: Rheumatoid Arthritis: Adherence Intervention Strategies
Role: Principal Investigator
Amount: 440,226
Funding Agency: Stanford University/NIH
Start Year: 2001
End Year: 2006
Title: Cardiovascular Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Role: Principal Investigator
Amount: 618,570
Funding Agency: NIH
Start Year: 2001
End Year: 2006
For Pub Med search results, click here.