Department of rheumatology and immunology was established in the 1970s. Under the leadership of Liu Wei, Zhang Lei, and Wu Yuanhao with decades of development, the department has formed a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment center for rheumatology that integrates clinical practice, teaching, scientific research, technological innovation, and guideline formulation. The department initiates the academic concept of “Du Bi Lun” and develops a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment technology system for “disease syndrome combination” of Du Bi based on principlemethod-recipe-medicines, focusing on dominant diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, gout, spinal arthritis, and joint pain.

At present, there are 38 medical staff in the department, including one Qihuang scholar, one famous traditional Chinese medicine doctor in Tianjin, one academic experience inheritance guidance teacher of national senior TCM experts, one doctoral supervisor, and five master’s supervisors. In the past decade, the department has received 23 project approvals at or above the provincial and ministerial level (including societies), and seven science and technology awards at or above the provincial and ministerial level (including societies). Furthermore, the department has edited three books and textbooks. Additionally, the department has obtained one first-class course of Tianjin. Moreover, the department is approved as a scientific popularization education base of Tianjin.