Our research in Immunology

Intended for healthcare professionals, scientific audiences and media.  

Pursuing pathbreaking science in Immunology

Giovanni Caforio on Bristol Myers Squibb's leadership in Immunology

Hear from our Chairman of the Board, Giovanni Caforio, MD, about our commitment to elevating patient care to new standards to deliver what matters most – the promise of living a better life.

 

At Bristol Myers Squibb, we are working to deliver meaningful solutions that address unmet needs in rheumatology, gastroenterology, dermatology and pulmonology. While there has been progress with medicines for immune-mediated diseases, people living with these conditions may not respond to available treatments. Many continue to endure chronic symptoms and disease progression that can take a toll on their daily life. 

 

Our goal is to restore some of what immune-mediated diseases have taken away — empowering patients and their loved ones to take back their lives.

Immunology focus areas

Our scientific innovation

Bristol Myers Squibb is focused on delivering scientific innovation with the empathy and urgency needed to advance care for people living with immune-mediated diseases. 

As we continuously build and expand our portfolio, our teams work to identify mechanisms that may reset and promote balance in the immune system, with the goal of achieving long-term remission and, ultimately, curative therapies. 

From hypothetical possibility to research reality: The innovation behind TYK2 inhibition

Discover how Bristol Myers Squibb’s pioneering research with tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) is changing how scientists tackle the challenge of immune-mediated diseases.


Pioneering paths forward in immunology

Hear from Jonathan Sadeh, MD, MSc, senior vice president, head of Global Program Leaders, Immunology, Cardiovascular & Neuroscience at Bristol Myers Squibb, about how the company aims to build a robust immunology portfolio with pathbreaking science that addresses the unmet needs of people living with immune-mediated diseases.


Exploring pathways in immune-mediated diseases to advance patient care

Alyssa Johnsen, MD, PhD, senior vice president and head of Clinical Development, Immunology, Cardiovascular and Neuroscience at Bristol Myers Squibb, shares her perspective on the great strides that have been made in the science of modulating the body's immune response to treat disease.

Meet our Immunology researchers

Elizabeth (Liz) Colston, M.D., Ph.D. >

Clinical Development Team Lead, Dermatology

Alyssa Johnsen, MD, PhD >

Senior Vice President and Head of Clinical Development, Immunology, Cardiovascular and Neuroscience

Robert Plenge, M.D., Ph.D. >

Executive Vice President, Chief Research Officer, Head of Research

Jonathan Sadeh, MD, MSc  >

Senior Vice President, Head of Global Program Leaders, Immunology, Cardiovascular & Neuroscience

Join us as we transform patients’ lives through science

Every day, each of us works to improve outcomes for patients fighting serious immune-mediated diseases. We're creative thinkers motivated by the practical application of our work, and innovators unafraid to step into uncharted territory. Together, we're building a better future for each other and the patients who need us most. 

Rheumatology

Over 20 years ago, Bristol Myers Squibb pioneered the science of modulating the body’s immune response to treat disease, beginning with the company’s research in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Building on that foundation, we continue to pursue pathbreaking science across rheumatic diseases including RA, psoriatic arthritis, lupus and ankylosing spondylitis. Fueled by the possibility to help more patients, we are following the science to tailor therapies to individual needs, improve outcomes and expand treatment options.

Advancing lupus research to address unmet needs >

Hear perspectives on how Bristol Myers Squibb scientists are advancing lupus research across the disease spectrum by Francisco Ramírez-Valle, MD, PhD, senior vice president and head of Immunology & Cardiovascular Thematic Research Center and Alyssa Johnsen, MD, PhD, senior vice president, head of Clinical Development, Immunology, Cardiovascular and Neuroscience.

BMS' commitment to precision medicine for patients living with immune-mediated diseases >

Hear Kellie Calderon, MD, medical director at Bristol Myers Squibb, explain the importance of collaboration and precision medicines in the study of immune-mediated disease.

Lupus: Treatments, research and Bristol Myers Squibb's dedication to patients - A Q&A with Subhashis Banerjee >

Subhashish Banerjee, MD, vice president & disease area head, Rheumatology and Dermatology at Bristol Myers Squibb, shares how the company is leveraging a pathways-based approach to advance research and ultimately elevate care for patients in need of new treatment options in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), also known as lupus.

Our precision-focused approach in RA and beyond: a Q&A with Dr. Sean E. Connolly >

Learn more about our work in rheumatology and what people impacted by immune-mediated diseases need to know.

Pursuing innovative approaches to advance research for psoriatic disease >

Learn more about how by targeting the tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) pathway, researchers can further our understanding of how to improve care for psoriatic disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis >

Learn more about RA, its symptoms and its potential impact on patients. 

Psoriatic arthritis >

Learn more about psoriatic arthritis, its symptoms and its potential impact on patients. 

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis >

Learn more about juvenile idiopathic arthritis, its symptoms and its potential impact on patients.

Lupus >

Learn more about lupus, its symptoms and its potential impact on patients.

Systemic lupus erythematosus >

Learn more about systemic lupus erythematosus, its symptoms and its potential impact on patients. 

Ankylosing spondylitis >

Learn more about ankylosing spondylitis, its symptoms and its potential impact on patients. 

Biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis >

Learn how biomarkers in RA can provide clues to diagnosis and insights into overall prognosis and have the potential to inform treatment strategies.

TYK2 pathway >

Learn about the scientific mechanism behind the TYK2 pathway and its role in immune-mediated diseases.

Sjögrens Disease >

Learn more about Sjögrens Disease, its symptoms and its potential impact on patients. 

Gastroenterology

Bristol Myers Squibb is pursuing innovative research to potentially change the course of gastrointestinal immune-mediated diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Our scientific innovations have the potential to provide relief and remission to people living with these conditions.

IBD: research, partnerships and Bristol Myers Squibb's dedication to patients >

Learn about Bristol Myers Squibb’s commitment to advancing IBD research for patients in need from Mark Osterman, M.D., vice president, disease area head, Gastroenterology.

Understanding the needs of people living with IBD >

Learn how Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to ongoing research in IBD.

Break the silence: shining a light on IBD >

Read a Q&A with leaders of European Federation of Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis Associations (EFCCA) regarding World IBD Day, and learn about the importance of advocating for patients suffering from various IBDs.

Winter's story: living with ulcerative colitis >

Learn about Winter's journey of living with ulcerative colitis for more than 20 years.

One woman's account of living with ulcerative colitis >

Laurie shares the inspiring story of how she persevered as a working mother and patient living with ulcerative colitis.

Leading the charge against eosinophilic esophagitis >

Discover how Bristol Myers Squibb is leading the way in improving eosinophilic esophagitis treatment and early diagnosis for improved patient well being.

Ulcerative colitis >

Learn more about ulcerative colitis, its symptoms and effects on patients. 

Crohn's disease >

Learn more about Crohn’s disease, a gastrointestinal immune-mediated disease that affects patients worldwide.

Eosinophilic esophagitis >

Learn more about EoE, a gastrointestinal immune-mediated disease that affects patients worldwide.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis Histology Scoring System (EoEHSS) >

Find out more about the Eosinophilic Esophagitis Histology Scoring System (EoEHSS) and how Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to increasing awareness and understanding of EoE.

Endoscopic Reference Score (EREFS) >

Learn more about endoscopic reference score, or the EREFS score, that is used by healthcare providers to help evaluate the severity of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

S1P signaling >

Learn about the role of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) signaling and its relationship to gut inflammation.

Dermatology

Through Bristol Myers Squibb’s pioneering exploration of immune pathways implicated in dermatologic conditions, our discovery team’s research is leading to the potential for safe, effective, category-defining new therapies that may address the pressing treatment gaps that continue to exist for people living with these conditions. With a highly focused pipeline, we are pursuing novel treatments for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis and exploring a broad range of serious dermatologic conditions in our early research.

Patient experience of living with psoriasis >

Learn about Royce Thomas' experience of living with psoriasis, as he speaks with Frida Dunger Johnsson, executive director of IFPA, and the importance of supporting the global community of individuals impacted by psoriatic disease.

Pioneering new paths forward in psoriasis >

Renata M. Kisa, M.D., discusses the company’s focus in dermatology research, how unmet needs drive the pipeline forward and what motivates Bristol Myers Squibb to make a difference for patients.

Becoming united: raising awareness globally on World Psoriasis Day >

Frida Dunger Johnsson, executive director of IFPA, and Janina Kostiukaite, project developer, sat down with Bristol Myers Squibb to discuss the importance of uniting to support those with psoriatic diseases. 

Understanding key psoriasis outcome measures  >

Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to educating patients and healthcare providers about psoriasis so that they can work together to determine a disease management plan.

Psoriasis Around the World  >

Hear from patients, advocates and healthcare providers from around the world on the burden of psoriasis and learn about the health disparities faced by patients of color.

Psoriasis >

Learn more about psoriasis, its symptoms and potential impact on patients.

Atopic dermatitis >

Learn more about atopic dermatitis, its symptoms and its potential impact on patients.

Psoriatic arthritis >

Learn more about psoriatic arthritis, its symptoms and its potential impact on patients.

TYK2 pathway >

Learn about the scientific mechanism behind the tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) pathway and its role in immune-mediated diseases.

Learn about the TYK2 pathway and its role in immune-mediated diseases like psoriasis.

Psoriasis treatment types >

Learning more about different types of treatment options can help people work with their healthcare providers on the approach best suited to their needs.

Pulmonology

Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to applying expertise regarding the role of fibrosis in the development of several immune-mediated diseases to advance new treatments that go beyond symptom relief and address the underlying causes of disease.

Breathing new hope into pulmonary fibrosis research >

Hear Bruce Ellsworth, PhD, scientific executive director, Medicinal Chemistry, and Aryeh Fischer, MD, Lung Fibrosis clinical development lead, discuss how Bristol Myers Squibb is leveraging its deep expertise in medicinal chemistry and disease biology to research potential treatments for pulmonary fibrosis.

Living with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis >

Read the inspiring story of Mal Doyle, a patient living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and learn how Bristol Myers Squibb is working towards developing potential treatments to slow the progression of pulmonary fibrosis.

Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPA1) in pulmonary fibrosis >

Learn more about Bristol Myers Squibb's commitment to developing new treatments for immune-mediated diseases with our research on the LPA1 receptor and its role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and progressive pulmonary fibrosis.