Cell-free RNA signature to diagnose Kawasaki disease and guide personalized treatment in kids
Official title: Cell-free RNA signature for Diagnosis and Personalized Therapeutics in Children with Kawasaki Disease
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11294040 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new blood test using tiny fragments of RNA found in the blood is being studied to help diagnose Kawasaki disease in children and tailor treatments to prevent heart complications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,639,166 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL179031-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11294040 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with suspected Kawasaki disease or at risk for KD-related heart complications, particularly in the 0-11 year age range.
✕Less likely to help
Children without KD or who do not meet diagnostic criteria may not benefit from this test.
What this research studies
This project will examine cell-free RNA in plasma from children with suspected Kawasaki disease to identify molecular signatures that distinguish KD from other illnesses. Researchers will combine clinical data from UCSD with advanced bioinformatics and RNA analysis from Cornell and Yale to develop a diagnostic biomarker panel. The goal is to enable earlier, more accurate diagnosis and to forecast risk of coronary artery aneurysms and IVIG treatment resistance, paving the way for personalized therapy. The study will involve collecting samples during acute and subacute phases and applying sequencing and computational methods to determine the cell origins of the RNA signals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a rapid, blood-based test that improves diagnosis and helps doctors choose the best initial and adjunctive treatments to protect heart health in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work on cfRNA in other diseases suggests cfRNA can reveal tissue-specific information, but this exact KD-focused approach is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burns, Jane C — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Burns, Jane C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Gut bacteria and permeability linked to Kawasaki disease in kids
A pediatric-focused study exploring how the gut microbiome and intestinal barrier may influence Kawasaki disease and its inflammation.
-
Cell-free RNA test to quickly diagnose Kawasaki disease in children
A new blood test using cell-free RNA will help doctors diagnose Kawasaki disease in kids faster, leading to earlier treatment.
-
Role of sex in immune-stromal cell interactions driving Kawasaki disease vasculitis
This project looks at why Kawasaki disease causes heart problems in kids and how sex differences affect the immune cell interactions that lead to artery inflammation.
-
Sex differences in immune–vessel cell interactions in Kawasaki disease
This project looks at how being male or female changes immune and blood-vessel cell behavior that leads to coronary artery damage in people with Kawasaki disease.
-
Gut bacteria and 'leaky' gut in Kawasaki disease
This research looks at whether changes in gut bacteria and a 'leaky' gut make Kawasaki disease worse in young children.
-
Investigating how sex affects immune interactions in Kawasaki disease
This study is looking at how Kawasaki disease affects kids and how the immune system interacts with blood vessels differently in boys and girls, with the goal of finding better treatments for those who don’t respond to regular therapies.
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.