Personal profile
Research Biography
Dr Wechalekar is a Specialist in Rheumatology (FRACP) and Associate Professor, Flinders University, College of Medicine & Public Health. He directs the synovial tissue bank based at the Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide (the only such facility in Australia) and has expertise in synovial biopsy analyses. His areas of interest are synovial membrane pathology, in health and disease, particularly early rheumatoid arthritis. Dr Wechalekar's work has fostered several national and international collaborations, book chapters and journal publications. He is also a member of the steering committee of the A3BC (Australian Arthritis and Autoimmune Biobank Collaborative), a nation-wide collaborative biobanking project.
In 2017, he was awarded the Flinders University Vice-Chancellor's Early Career Researcher Award.
External positions
Rheumatology Consultant, Flinders Medical Centre
31 Jul 2015 → …
Supervision
- Registered
Research Areas
- Clinical
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
Fingerprint
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Dynamic expression of complement receptor immunoglobulin (CRIg) on monocytes and its role in phagocytosis and killing of Staphylococcus aureus
Perveen, K., Yang, G., Skurray, C. D., Ngo, A., Black, N., Putty, T., Patel, A., Small, A. G., Gulam, M. Y., Wechalekar, M. D., Sadlon, T., Barry, S. C., Quach, A., Hii, C. S. & Ferrante, A., 13 Mar 2026, In: Journal of Biomedical Science. 33, 1, 20 p., 29.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Erdheim–Chester disease mimicking IgG4-related disease
Moore, K. E., Venter, G., Slavotinek, J. P. & Wechalekar, M. D., 2026, In: Modern Rheumatology Case Reports. 10, 1, 7 p., rxag001.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Spatial patterning of fibroblast TGFβ signaling underlies treatment resistance in rheumatoid arthritis
Bhamidipati, K., McIntyre, A. B. R., Kazerounian, S., Ce, G., Wong, S. W., Tran, M., Prell, S. A., Lau, R., Khedgikar, V., Altmann, C., Small, A., Madhu, R., Presti, S. R., Anufrieva, K. S., Blazar, P. E., Lange, J. K., Seifert, J. A., Accelerating Medicines Partnership RA/SLE Network, Accelerating Medicines Partnership: Autoimmune and Immune-Mediated Diseases Network (AMP-AIM) & Colorado Interdisciplinary Joint Biology Program (CUIJBP) Consortium & 13 others, , Mar 2026, In: Nature Immunology. 27, 3, p. 556-571 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus) -
AI automated radiographic scoring in rheumatoid arthritis: Shedding light on barriers to implementation through comprehensive evaluation
Bird, A., Oakden-Rayner, L., Chakradeo, K., Thomas, R., Gupta, D., Jain, S., Jacob, R., Ray, S., Wechalekar, M. D., Proudman, S. & Palmer, L. J., Oct 2025, In: SEMINARS IN ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM. 74, 8 p., 152761.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus)62 Downloads (Pure) -
A Shifting Frame
Terrett, A., Koszyca, B., Slavotinek, J., Rankin, W. & Wechalekar, M. D., 2 Oct 2025, In: The New England journal of medicine. 393, 13, p. 1328-1334 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Prizes
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Allan Kerr Grant Award for best teacher (nomination)
Wechalekar, M. (Recipient), 2007
Prize: Other distinction
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Australia-New Zealand Rheumatology Association Mid-Career Research Excellence Award
Wechalekar, M. (Recipient), 20 May 2024
Prize
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Australia Rheumatology Association bursary recipient
Wechalekar, M. (Recipient), 2010
Prize: Other distinction
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Best Basic Science Free Paper Presentation
Chin, A. (Recipient), Branford, S. (Recipient), Small, A. (Recipient), Kutyna, M. (Recipient), Proudman, S. (Recipient), Hiwase, D. (Recipient) & Wechalekar, M. (Recipient), 2025
Prize
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Activities
- 7 Invited talk
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Interpretation of synovial biopsies
Wechalekar, M. (Author)
4 Sept 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Personalisation of treatment in RA
Wechalekar, M. (Author)
4 May 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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From bedside to bench and back: rheumatology research as a clinician-researcher
Wechalekar, M. (Author)
18 Sept 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Synovial biopsies and synovial tissue biobanking: a journey through the years
Wechalekar, M. (Author)
22 Oct 2022Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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The ARBITRATE Study: Synovial Biopsy directed Targeted therapy and Related Studies
Wechalekar, M. (Author)
23 Oct 2022Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk