Annual Patient and Loved One Summit Delivers Education, Connection and Inspiration in Abundance

Joshua Brandstadter MD, PhD, MSc, is a physician-scientist, Instructor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania, and Director of Clinical Research at the Center for Center for Cytokine Storm Treatment & Laboratory (CSTL). Through his varied roles, he helps to lead our ACCELERATE Natural History Registry, he cares for patients with Castleman disease, and he conducts extensive laboratory research to identify the causes of this disease.

“I’m able to bring three different perspectives―that of a scientist, a clinical researcher and a treating clinician―as we push through new frontiers to better understand Castleman disease,” says Dr. Brandstadter. “I love exploring how the immune system plays roles in protecting our bodies, and sometimes causing harm to our bodies.” 

At any given time, Dr. Brandstadter may be working on four to six research studies. But he says he is most proud of the work he does taking care of patients, and providing the knowledge and reassurance they need after receiving a rare disease diagnosis. 

“It’s common that patients come to me after being told by the doctor who diagnosed them that they’ve never seen a Castleman disease patient before, which can feel very scary,” explains Dr. Brandstadter. “I’m able to tell them we see many patients with Castleman disease, we have a patient registry containing substantial medical data, and we’ve learned a lot about this disease and how to treat it effectively.”

When he is not in the lab or seeing patients, Dr. Brandstadter loves spending time with his wife and two young children at the playground, at their numerous activities, or serving as an assistant coach for his son’s ice hockey team. While he now lives in Swarthmore, he grew up in Long Island, and remains a huge fan of the New York Islanders.

Dr. Brandstadter holds an MSc in Integrated Immunology from the University of Oxford and a combined MD/PhD from Duke University. He completed his internal medicine and hematology/oncology training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.