Dr. Kunal Chandwar

Professional Summary:

• Dr. Kunal Chandwar is a highly accomplished Clinical Immunologist and Rheumatologist with an impressive academic background and extensive clinical experience in managing adult and pediatric immune system disorders. He has distinguished himself through rigorous training at some of India's and the world's most prestigious medical institutions. Dr. Chandwar earned his MBBS from B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, followed by an MD in General Medicine from NHL Municipal Medical College, where he received a gold medal for his exceptional academic performance. He further specialized with a DM in Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology from King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, graduating with another gold medal and honors.
• His expertise spans complex autoimmune rheumatic diseases, allergic conditions, immunodeficiencies, and musculoskeletal disorders. Dr. Chandwar's dedication to patient care is evident through his patient-centered therapeutic approaches and his commitment to remaining at the forefront of his field. He is a certified EULAR Rheumatologist, having completed multiple EULAR courses, and specialized training in musculoskeletal ultrasound, pediatric rheumatology, and advanced imaging techniques. He has also completed allergy training programs through the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), even passing the EAACI knowledge exam.
• Dr. Chandwar's international experience includes serving as an APLAR-EULAR Exchange Fellow in Milan, Italy, and a SLEuro Training Fellow at University College London Hospital. He has also held Assistant Professor positions in the Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology at KGMU and Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow. He has been invited as a faculty member at numerous conferences and has presented papers and posters at over 10 national and international events.
• A prolific researcher and contributor to the medical community, Dr. Chandwar has over 50 publications to his name and serves as a reviewer and editorial board member for several national and international journals. He has treated thousands of patients for years, helping them address their health challenges with his expertise and compassionate care.
• Dr. Chandwar also runs two Twitter (now X) channels to educate doctors and patients about autoimmune rheumatic diseases and allergic diseases and has been an active member of social media committees of various journals and societies.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS – MBBS, MD, DM (Distinction/Honours)

Additional Courses Done

• EULAR (European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology) European Certificate of Rheumatology
• EULAR Certificate course in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
• EULAR Certificate Course in Paediatric Rheumatology
• EULAR Certificate Course in Patient Education for Physicians and Health Professionals
• EULAR Online Course on Imaging in RMDs
• EULAR Online Course for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• EULAR Online Course on Systemic Sclerosis
• The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Mentee Course
• 2024 AAAAI (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology) Leadership Institute Course
• 2024 AAAAI/ACAAI Joint Board Review Course
• 2024 AAAAI Allergy/Immunology Self-Assessment
• 16th EAACI-UEMS Knowledge Examination in Allergology and Clinical Immunology
• Web of Science Academy course on Co-reviewing with a mentor, An Introduction to Peer Review, Good Citation Behaviour
• EMUNET (Emerging EULAR Network) Peer Review Course
• OARSI (Osteoarthritis Research Society International) Peer Review Course

Awards

• Sri Babubhai Amrutlal Mehta Medal for Highest Marks In MD Medicine, 2018
• Dr. Chhotubhai H Naik Memorial Medal for 1st Place in MD Medicine, 2019
• Indravadan Ambalal Modi Awards for Academic Excellence, 2018
• Winner of the People's Choice Award in ACR Convergence 2021 Image Competition
• Winner of Best Regional Images – South Asia in ACR Convergence 2021 Image Competition
• Winner of EULAR/EMUNET trivia game 10th November 2021
• Rheumatology Advances in Practice’s top 12 Peer reviewers of 2022
• Prof. Siddharth Kumar Das Gold Medal for Highest Marks in Rheumatology, 2022
• ACR-EULAR-APLAR Exchange Programme 2023
• IRA Travel Grant for EULAR 2023
• SLEuro Training bursary, at University College of London 2023
• Social Media Ambassador for ACR Convergence 2023
• Best Poster Award in Young Consultant Category at World Rheumatology Forum 2024, Chennai
• Social Media Ambassador for ACR Convergence 2024
• Best Research Paper in Indian Journal Of Rheumatology for year 2024

Organisational Roles

• Member of the Scientific networking team at the IRACON2021 – the national conference of the Indian Rheumatology Association
• Quiz Master for the Scientific Networking Event at the IRACON2021 – the national conference of the Indian Rheumatology Association
• Member of the Stage and Social networking team at the IRACON2022, Indore – the national conference of the Indian Rheumatology Association
• Member of Scientific Committee for RAG Winter Symposium 2022
• Regional Quiz Master, Uttar Pradesh for SD Deodhar Rheumatology Quiz 2023
• Organising Committee member of Annual Conference of Society for Osteoarthritis Research (SOAR) – SOARCON 2023
• Organising Committee member of IRACON 2023 – the national conference of the Indian Rheumatology Association - Lead Social Media and Member for IRACON Newspaper
• Organising Secretary – ImmunoAllergy Conclave 2024
• Joint Organising Secretary – SOARCON 2024 (Official Conference of Society of Osteoarthritis Research)
• Regional Quiz Master, Uttar Pradesh for SD Deodhar Rheumatology Quiz 2024
• Scientific Chair, Postgraduate Rheumatology Update, KGMU 2024

Membership of Professional Societies

• The Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR)
• EMerging EULAR NETwork (EMEUNET)
• Indian Rheumatology Association (IRA)
• Rheumatology Association of Gujarat (RAG)
• Society for Osteoarthritis Research (SOAR)
• Indian College of Allergy, Asthma & Applied Immunology (ICAAI)
• The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)
• The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI)
• World Allergy Organisation (WAO)
• Myositis India
• Myositis International Health and Research Collaborative Alliance
• SLEuro
• International Eosinophil Societies
• Member of Special Interest Group of Myositis, Osteoarthritis and Sjögren’s Disease of Indian Rheumatology Association
• Hereditary Angioedema Society of India

Collaborative Projects

• Muti-institutional Collaborative Projects on Myositis, Sjögren’s and Osteoarthritis
• LUPHPOS survey https://lupus.bmj.com/content/11/Suppl_1/A8.2
• COVID-19 vaccination in autoimmune diseases (COVAD) study group

Notable Publications

• Chandwar K. Avacopan for the Treatment of ANCA-Associated Vasculitis. N Engl J Med. 2021 May 27;384(21):e81. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2104672. PMID: 34042397.
• Chandwar K, Lathiya H, Gohel A, Shah C. Sacral osteoid osteoma: a rare cause of inflammatory back pain and sacroiliitis in a young man. BMJ Case Rep. 2021 Aug 11;14(8):e244074. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2021-244074.
• Chandwar K, Pandya S. Is combination of immunosuppressive drugs the answer to reduce glucocorticoid burden in patients with lupus nephritis? Clin Rheumatol. 2021 Dec;40(12):5121-5123. doi: 10.1007/s10067-021-05868-4.
• Chandwar K, Dogga P, Hazarika K, Vijaykumaran AK, Kumar P. Calcinosis and the cranium: inside and out. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 May 5;61(5):e133-e134. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab564. PMID: 34264336.
• Chandwar K, Dogga P, Dixit J, Ekbote D, Kishor K, Kumar P. Flare of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis in pregnancy. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 May 30;61(6):e163-e164. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab618. PMID: 34324638.
• Dogga P, Chandwar K, Kishor K, Kumar P. The diagnostic 'pearl'. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 Apr 11;61(4):1735-1736. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab480. PMID: 34110417.
• Chandwar K, Kumar P, Dhakad U. Reduced-Dose vs High-Dose Glucocorticoids Added to Rituximab and Remission Induction in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis. JAMA. 2021;326(15):1535. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.13863
• Chandwar K, Dixit J, Dogga P, Ekbote D, Kishor K, Dhakad U. Mammoth osteophytes in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Sep 16:keab706. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab706. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34528080.
• Chandwar K, Shah C. Trial of Endovascular Treatment of Basilar-Artery Occlusion. N Engl J Med. 2021;385(10):959. doi:10.1056/NEJMc2109962
• Chandwar K, Sahoo RR, Wakhlu A, Wakhlu A. Pneumatosis intestinalis: a rare manifestation of lupus enteritis. BMJ Case Rep. 2022 Jan 19;15(1):e247779. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2021-247779