Professor Bombardieri leads the Immuno-Rheumatology Research group at EMR (10 researchers) and the Sjogren’s Clinical Research Team (1 clinical trial coordinator, 1 specialist nurse, 2 clinical research fellows). His major research interests focus on the elucidation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating autoreactive B cell activation, breach of self-tolerance and perpetuation of autoimmunity in Sjogren’s syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, he has significant interest in translational research with the aim to identify new therapeutic targets and novel biomarkers in order to develop early phase clinical trials based on patients’ stratification and target validation in Sjogren’s syndrome and inflammatory arthritis. Furthermore, Dr Bombardieri is currently investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the response/relapse/resistance to B cell depleting agents in rheumatic diseases.