Inaugural Professorial Lecture – Professor Simon Stebbings

Therefore the moon … washes all the sky
About Professor Simon Stebbings’s research
Simon is a Rheumatologist and head of the Rheumatology Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine.

His research is focused on Spondyloarthritis, a common inflammatory arthritis of the spine. Simon has studied the genetic basis of this condition through international collaborations, which have led to new tools for early diagnosis.

He has also extensively researched the role that the immune system and gut bacteria play in the development and perpetuation of spondyloarthritis. Through membership of the Assessments in Spondyloarthritis International Society, he has helped to develop tools to improve understanding of the health impacts of Spondyloarthritis.

He has been the New Zealand representative on a board developing guidelines for managing Spondyloarthritis across the Asia-Pacific region. Simon's other research focus is through a longstanding collaboration with the Psychology Department, investigating the impact of fatigue, and most recently the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on people with arthritis.