Assistant professor Dr. Maka Gegenava  visited  the Leiden University Department of Reumatology to pass  the clinical and scientific training.  She was involved in every day clinical and scientific activities of the Department: attended morning rounds, research conferences, examinations and treatment of patients with different Rheumatic pathologies. She systematically attended lectures provided by well-known experts in this field of Medicine, participated in 11th European Lupus Meeting Düsseldorf, Germany, 21.03.2018 – 24.03.2018.

She learned how to start a scientific idea and systematically plan and develop a research project, including collection of scientific data and statistical analysis. Apart from the theoretical scientific activities, Dr. Maka Gegenava gained knowledge in modern diagnostic methods: Musculoskeletal (MSK) sonography examination in patients with scleroderma. Currently, she is working on a very interesting project:  ,,Performance of the 2017 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a cohort of patients suspected for neuropsychiatric involvement of SLE.’’ She started working on new project: ,,Association of  Valvular Heart Disease  with Brain Injury In Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients”.  This project will allow to continue the research work and training in the above-mentioned Department. According to Prof. T. Huizinga Head of Department of Rheumatology, her visit was very successful for both institutions and  she was suggested to continue   collaboration.