Cell- and tissue-level maps for autoimmune diseases
Official title: Single cell and spatial genomic analyses of specimens from patients with autoimmune diseases (Technology Core)
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11306983 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We use advanced single-cell and spatial genomic tests on samples from people with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, or lupus to locate the cells and molecules driving these conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | March 22, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,180,166 |
| NIH project number | 5UC2AR081031-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11306983 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, primary Sjögren’s syndrome, or systemic lupus erythematosus who can provide blood and/or tissue samples are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without these listed autoimmune conditions or those unable to provide the required blood or tissue samples are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
What this research studies
If you join, we will collect blood and sometimes tissue samples and apply cutting-edge single-cell and spatial genomic methods (scRNA-seq, CITE-seq, TCR/BCR sequencing, snATAC-seq, and spatial transcriptomics) to map cells and molecules in your blood and affected tissues. The team will run pilot work to optimize how samples are preserved and processed to ensure reliable, high-quality data. Disease and tissue experts across the AMP AIM network will collaborate to interpret these maps and connect findings to clinical questions. The goal is to create detailed cell-level atlases across multiple autoimmune diseases to guide future biomarker and therapy development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal specific cell types or molecular pathways to help diagnose subtypes of autoimmune diseases or point to new treatment targets.
How similar studies have gone: Previous single-cell and spatial mapping projects have already found disease-linked cell states and immune signatures, and this core aims to scale and harmonize those methods across multiple autoimmune diseases.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brenner, Michael B. — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Brenner, Michael B.
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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.