Affiliation: Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Department of Rheumatology, China.

Dr. Wei obtained her medical degree from Tianjin Medical University, China. She then did her internal medicine residency, as well as her rheumatology training at the Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, where she was a member of the faculty for more than 30 years. She is also honored as a professor and doctoral supervisor of rheumatology at the Tianjin Medical University. Dr. Wei’s research interest focuses on the role of extracellular vesicles in lupus, which may contribute to the development of autoimmune responses and to end-organ damage. Prof. Wei also has an interest in the etiology mechanisms of connective tissue disease associated pulmonary artery hypertension, that may prevent vascular damage in systemic autoimmunity. By far, she has already received more than 10 national and provincial research grants, and published more than 30 publications, including publications at the J Autoimmun, Autoimmun Rev, Ann Rheum Dis etc. In addition, Dr. Wei has been elected as a Famous Clinician in Tianjin, China. She consults patients with SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, etc. She is also involved in various clinical trials. Under her leadership, the department ranks one of the top rheumatology department in China, with an annual inpatient population of more than 2000, and an annual outpatient of nearly 100,000. She has served various academic roles, such as permanent member of Chinese Rheumatology Association, vice chairperson of permanent member of Internal Medicine Branch of Rheumatic Diseases, Chinese Physicians’ Association, chairperson of Tianjin Rheumatology Association, etc.