Masaru Kato M.D., Ph.D. is a senior lecturer of Department of Rheumatology and Nephrology, Hokkaido University Hospital. He is a leader of J-STAR-IR, a subcommittee of Japan College of Rheumatology (JCR). His current major research interests include the pathogenesis and management of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, spondylarthritis, and osteoporosis.