CXCR3 Blockade as a Targeted Therapy for Cardiac Sarcoidosis
Official title: Investigating CXCR3 Blockade as Precision Therapy for Cardiac Sarcoidosis using Single-Cell Multi-omics and TCR Phenotyping
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11372257 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to see if blocking CXCR3 can help treat heart involvement in sarcoidosis patients using advanced immune profiling and a mouse model.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $722,135 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL174432-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372257 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include patients with cardiac sarcoidosis or those with sarcoidosis and cardiac involvement who consent to tissue samples and immune profiling, plus healthy controls for comparison.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cardiac involvement or those who cannot provide samples may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project uses single-cell multi-omics and mass cytometry to map immune cells in cardiac sarcoidosis and tests whether CXCR3+ T cells drive heart inflammation. Researchers will study a mouse model of cardiac sarcoidosis and compare samples from patients with cardiac involvement, sarcoidosis limited to the lungs, and healthy controls to identify potential targets. The goal is to determine if blocking CXCR3 could reduce harmful T-cell activity and protect heart function. Results could guide future therapies that more precisely target heart-specific inflammation in sarcoidosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new, targeted treatments that lessen heart inflammation and improve outcomes for people with cardiac sarcoidosis.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work with deep immunophenotyping in myocarditis and inflammatory diseases suggests that targeting specific T-cell subsets can be effective, though this exact approach in cardiac sarcoidosis is exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhu, Han — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Zhu, Han
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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This project uses PET and MRI scans with advanced imaging measures and AI to monitor how people with active cardiac sarcoidosis respond to immune-suppressing treatments.
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Investigating imaging responses to immune suppressant therapy in cardiac sarcoidosis patients
This study is looking at how well certain imaging tests can show if patients with cardiac sarcoidosis are responding to their immune-suppressing treatments, with the goal of finding better ways to help them feel better.
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Integrative metabolomics to improve sarcoidosis diagnosis and prognosis
A research project from UCLA aims to find blood-based biomarkers that help diagnose sarcoidosis earlier and predict how it will progress, especially in African American women.
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Predicting Lung Health in Sarcoidosis with Vitamin D Metabolism
Aging individuals with sarcoidosis, especially Black/African American women, may benefit from a clearer plan that uses vitamin D biology to predict and improve lung health.
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.