Our Team
Our Multidisciplinary Team | Co-Directors
Eleni Tiniakou, MD — Rheumatology (Co-Director)
Dr. Tiniakou joins UT Houston after a distinguished tenure at Johns Hopkins. She brings expertise in autoimmune myopathies, experience in translational research, clinical trials and a patient-centered approach to immunomodulatory treatment and clinical trial design.
Dr. Tiniakou joins UT Houston after a distinguished tenure at Johns Hopkins. She brings expertise in autoimmune myopathies, experience in translational research, clinical trials and a patient-centered approach to immunomodulatory treatment and clinical trial design.
Suur Biliciler, MD — Neuromuscular Specialist (Co-Director)
Dr. Biliciler is a board-certified neurologist with subspecialties in neuromuscular medicine, nerve and muscle pathology, and electrodiagnostics. She is an expert in the management of complex myopathies, including myositis, with an emphasis on lifestyle medicine. As co-director, Dr. Biliciler leads neuromuscular diagnostics.
Dr. Biliciler is a board-certified neurologist with subspecialties in neuromuscular medicine, nerve and muscle pathology, and electrodiagnostics. She is an expert in the management of complex myopathies, including myositis, with an emphasis on lifestyle medicine. As co-director, Dr. Biliciler leads neuromuscular diagnostics.
Interdisciplinary Core Collaborators
- Pulmonology — specialists in interstitial lung disease and respiratory muscle dysfunction, providing screening, pulmonary function testing, and management of myositis-associated lung disease.
- Dermatology — experts in dermatomyositis skin manifestations and skin-directed therapies.
- Pathology, Radiology, and Rehabilitation Medicine — providing muscle biopsy interpretation, muscle MRI expertise, and rehabilitation programs.
- Clinical research coordinators and nurse specialists — to support trial participation, patient education, and care navigation.