Ignacio Sanz, MD

A board-certified practicing rheumatologist with major emphasis on SLE, Dr. Sanz was Chief of the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at the University of Rochester since 1996 until his move to Emory in April of 2012 as the Mason Lowance Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Chief of the Division of Rheumatology, Director of the Lowance Center for Human Immunology and Georgia Research Alliance Distinguished Scholar in Human Immunology.  For the last 16 years, Dr. Sanz has been the director of one of only 8 NIH-funded Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence in the nation. 

Clinically, Dr. Sanz has been practicing Rheumatology for over 25 years.  While he has long-standing expertise with other systemic rheumatic and autoimmune diseases, for the last 7 years his practice has emphasized the care of patients with SLE (Lupus).  From a research and leadership standpoint, and in addition to his role in the Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence, Dr. Sanz is also the Principal Investigator of multiple NIH grants and programs investigating B cells and autoantibodies with special emphasis on Lupus and other human autoimmune diseases.  He is also a member of the Immune Tolerance Network Steering Committees.  

American Association of Immunologists (AAI) 

American College of Rheumatology

The Kunkel Society for Clinical Investigation 

Association of American Physicians

To provide the highest quality of care, interpreter services may be utilized to ensure proper communication of medical information for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and non-English speaking patients or family members.

Virginia P. Engelischoff Research Award” of the National Arthritis Foundation

MERIT Award (NIH-NIAID), 2010-2020

AAI Clinical Immunology Committee  2013-2016

Co-Leader, National Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence, 2009-date

Elected Member of the Association of American Physicians 

2017 Evelyn Hess Memorial Award for Lupus Research (Rheumatology Research Foundation) 

2019 Lupus Insight Prize, Lupus Research Alliance