A research poster presented by Wayne State University School of Medicine Associate Professor of Medicine J. Patricia Dhar, M.D., was highlighted and selected for poster tours at the 2017 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting, held Nov. 4-8 in San Diego.

Dr. Dhar presented "Lack of Uptake of HPV Vaccine in Women with SLE, a High Risk Population" on Nov. 6.

The study brings attention to the public health issue of women with systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, not getting vaccinated for human papilloma virus, or HPV, in Michigan, despite the fact that they are at a higher risk for HPV infection and cervical neoplasia than the general population.

Dr. Dhar also was invited to speak about her research on cervical neoplasia, HPV infection and HPV vaccination in women with SLE at Vaccine Research and Development 2017, an international research meeting held Nov. 15 in Washington, D.C. Meeting colleagues included researchers from the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Dhar discussed her research showing the increased risk for HPV infection and cervical neoplasia in women with SLE, along with results of her published study showing that HPV vaccination is safe and immunogenic in that population.