Dr. Nagaraju is a veterinarian by basic training. Subsequent to obtaining veterinary training in 1986 he received a Master degree in veterinary immunology (1989) and a PhD in immunology (1995). Later, he did his post-doctoral training at National Institutes of Health in Dr. Paul Plotz’s laboratory (1995-1999) where he worked on the pathogenesis of autoimmune muscle diseases.  In 1999, he joined the faculty of medicine and established an independent laboratory in division of rheumatology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where he continued his research on immunopathogenetic mechanisms of autoimmune muscle diseases (1999-2005). During this time Dr. Nagaraju developed active collaborations with Dr. Hoffman and Dr. Yi-Wen Chen and extended his studies to muscular dystrophies (e.g., DMD and dysferlin deficiency), complex multigenic diseases, and sexual dimorphism in immune function. Recently, Dr. Hoffman recruited Dr. Nagaraju as associate professor to the research center for genetic medicine, where he is continuing his studies on autoimmune and genetic muscle diseases. Dr. Nagaraju also currently directs a pre-clinical mouse functional drug testing facility for muscular dystrophy funded by the department of defense. One of the major areas of Dr. Nagaraju’s laboratory include defining the role of immune (innate and adaptive) and non-immune pathways in muscle fiber damage and dysfunction in genetic (see project 2) and autoimmune muscle diseases (NIH RO1). Dr. Nagaraju’s research is currently supported by National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, Arthritis Foundation, The Myositis Association and Foundation to Eradicate Duchenne.