Anti-Xist antibodies in autoimmune diseases: a new diagnostic and prognostic tool
Official title: Anti-Xist RNP antibodies (AXA) in autoimmune disease diagnosis and prognosis
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11403963 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Stanford-led study will test autoantibodies against the female-specific XIST complex to improve diagnosis and prediction of disease course in lupus, scleroderma, and dermatomyositis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $400,488 |
| NIH project number | 5U54AR085970-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11403963 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with autoimmune diseases such as SLE, SSc, or DM who may benefit from improved diagnostic and prognostic information.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with autoimmune conditions not related to AXA patterns or without available longitudinal samples may have limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project will use a new protein array to profile AXA antibodies in people with autoimmune diseases. Researchers aim to see if AXA patterns can tell apart SLE, SSc, and DM, and whether AXA levels relate to how severe the disease is over time. The study will also explore whether AXA can predict how well patients respond to therapy, using longitudinal samples from early systemic sclerosis. If successful, AXA testing could become a useful tool for personalized care in these conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could get more accurate diagnoses and better predictions of disease progression and treatment response.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows AXA patterns are detectable and may have diagnostic/prognostic value; this project expands to a 3-disease comparison with longitudinal data.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chang, Howard Y — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Chang, Howard Y
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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.