Ignacio Sanz, MD

Dr. Sanz received his MD degree from the University of Cantabria Medical School in Spain. He trained in molecular immunology with Don Capra at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and did his Rheumatology fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Dr. Sanz moved to the University of Rochester as Chief of the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology in 1996.  In Rochester, he also served as director of the Rochester Autoimmunity Center of Excellence; director of the Center for Biodefense of Immunocompromised Populations and director of the Center for Translational Immunology. In 2012, he moved to Emory University as the Mason Lowance Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics and Georgia Research Alliance Distinguished Scholar in Human Immunology; Chief of Rheumatology and Director of the Lowance Center for Human Immunology.  He is the Scientific Co-Leader of the NIH Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence Network, a member of the Steering Committee of the Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) and of ITN Autoimmunity Assessment Group.  Internationally, Dr. Sanz is the Chair of the WHO Committee for the Nomenclature of Human B cells. His research focuses on the regulation of human B cells and plasma cells, the mechanisms of B cell autoimmunity and the therapeutic targeting of B cells in autoimmune diseases. Dr. Sanz is an elected member of the Association of American Physicians and received the 2019 Lupus Insight Prize.