Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare heterogeneous autoimmune connective tissue disease. Research advancements have improved our understanding of disease pathogenesis, clinical phenotypes, and expanded our treatment armamentarium. Early diagnosis is quintessential, as well as ongoing efforts to risk stratify patients in predicting both clinical disease as well as severe disease course. The research of Prof. V. Smith  further fills the gap of important unmet needs  based on translational tools (nailfold video capillaroscopy, high frequency ultrasonography) as well as laborious basic research (image mass cytometry).