AI-powered look at lupus nephritis in humans and mice
Official title: Using artificial intelligence to bridge human and murine studies of lupus nephritis progression
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11369129 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will use artificial intelligence to compare kidney tissue from people with lupus nephritis to tissue from mouse models, aiming to understand why treatments work differently in humans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $806,635 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI180222-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369129 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with lupus nephritis and researchers using established LN mouse models; involvement could include tissue analysis from consenting participants and data derived from human samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without lupus nephritis or those not contributing tissue or data will not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project uses AI and advanced imaging to map how lupus kidney disease appears in human tissue and in mouse models, hoping to align the two so treatments that help people with lupus nephritis can be identified more reliably. By examining high-dimensional tissue data, scientists will try to pinpoint human disease states that are mirrored in mice and test them in relevant mouse models. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that predict who will respond to therapy and why, with the ultimate aim of guiding personalized treatment for patients with LN.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could improve prediction of who will respond to therapy and guide more effective treatments for lupus nephritis.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown that aligning human and mouse disease mechanisms can be challenging, but AI-guided tissue analysis is a promising approach with some successful precedents in translational nephrology.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clark, Marcus Ramsay — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Clark, Marcus Ramsay
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.