Clarissa Pilkington

Consultant in Adolescent and Paediatric Rheumatology at Great Ormond Street Hospital since 2001.

Led Paediatric Rheumatology at GOSH as Specialty Lead between 2004 and 2018, heading the UK’s largest service in this field with an established international profile.

Served as President of the British Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology from late 2012 until April 2017.

Clinical Director of the Juvenile Dermatomyositis Research Centre at the Institute of Child Health, part of University College London, a position held since 2001.

Became Chief of Service for the Blood, Cells and Cancer Directorate at GOSH in October 2018, overseeing and coordinating eight specialist services including rheumatology, dermatology, immunology, infectious diseases, oncology, haematology, haemophilia, bone marrow transplantation, and palliative care.

Member of NHS England’s Paediatric Medicine Clinical Reference Group (Paediatric Rheumatology and North London representative) from 2016 to 2019, followed by reappointment for a further three-year term.

Research:

Engaged in global research initiatives in juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), contributing to the creation of activity and damage scoring systems, diagnostic and classification frameworks, muscle biopsy evaluation tools, and therapeutic strategies. Has taken part in the PRINTO trial and development of European SHARE recommendations for JDM, and is currently involved in drafting British Society for Rheumatology guidance on myositis across paediatric and adult populations.

Founding contributor to the UK paediatric SLE cohort group, with participation in clinical studies of Belimumab for juvenile SLE, alongside involvement in European SHARE guidance for managing paediatric lupus.

Also contributed to European SHARE recommendations on scleroderma, vasculitis, and Kawasaki Disease, and has taken part in expert consensus work relating to juvenile systemic scleroderma.