For Dr. David Beck, research starts with a question:
What’s really causing these diseases—and how can we treat them better?
It’s a question that has guided his work as a physician-scientist in a field where patients often live with uncertain diagnoses and limited treatment options.
“What made me interested,” he says, “is trying to figure out what causes these diseases so we can find better ways to diagnose and treat.”
For patients with autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases—especially those who have gone years without answers—this mission matters deeply.
Dr. Beck is an Assistant Professor at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine and Principal Investigator of the Beck Lab, where he leads a team focused on integrating human genetics with disease research. As a 2023–2025 ANRF Scholar, he is using the power of genetics to uncover what’s happening at the molecular level in conditions that have long been misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or simply unnamed.
When a Diagnosis Isn’t Enough
Rheumatology is a field full of complexity. Many patients live with conditions that don’t fit neatly into diagnostic boxes, and even when they receive a name, it doesn’t always come with a clear path to treatment.
That’s where genetics offers hope. Dr. Beck’s work focuses on finding the actual genes and pathways driving disease, turning vague or partial answers into precise targets for treatment. “Genetics gives us a bullseye,” he says. “It’s something to aim at.”
Behind the Breakthrough
In recent years, Dr. Beck has helped uncover one of the most significant new autoinflammatory conditions: VEXAS syndrome, a severe and often treatment-resistant disease that affects the immune and blood systems. But as dramatic as that discovery sounds, the process wasn’t marked by a single “eureka” moment.
Instead, it was the result of steady collaboration. “It’s this continuous reevaluation of the genetic data that comes from patients,” says Dr. Beck. “There’s not necessarily always an ‘aha’ moment.”
What there is, though, is progress – step by step, patient by patient.
Powered by Patients
At the heart of Dr. Beck’s work is a deep respect for the people who make this research possible: the patients.
“We’re tremendously appreciative of their involvement,” he says. “Some of the seminal findings have come from that engagement.”
He knows firsthand how difficult it can be to participate in research, especially while managing fatigue, pain, and uncertainty. “When I don’t feel well, I don’t want to go and give blood or engage in long conversations about research,” he admits. “So, we’re just incredibly thankful.”
That partnership is what drives discovery, and it’s the bridge between the lab and the lives that research ultimately serves.
The Role of Support
Scientific progress takes time, and it also takes resources. Support from organizations like ANRF, Dr. Beck says, is more than just a funding line. It’s a vote of confidence. It’s connection to a community. And it’s fuel for asking the kinds of difficult questions that can change lives.
“Every little bit matters,” he says. “It allows us to go into more depth, to explore the biology behind inflammation, and to connect with mentors and advisors who help shape our work.”
In a field where treatment options have often lagged behind, Dr. Beck sees a turning point on the horizon. Thanks to a combination of patient participation, support from organizations like ANRF, and scientific persistence, rheumatology is entering its precision medicine era.
Be Part of the Progress
If you’ve ever wondered whether participating in or supporting research really makes a difference, Dr. Beck’s story is your answer. Your involvement, your curiosity, your support: they help transform questions into breakthroughs.
Do you want to be a part of something like this?
Making a gift is a great place to start.
Visit our donate page and help us move one step closer to a cure.
