Digital analysis of kidney biopsy images for lupus nephritis
Official title: Digital Pathology and Computational Image Analysis for Lupus Nephritis
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11299563 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using computerized analysis of digitized kidney biopsy images to find features that predict how lupus nephritis will behave in adults, especially people of African ancestry.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | March 5, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $582,026 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR080668-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11299563 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with systemic lupus erythematosus who have had a kidney biopsy for lupus nephritis, particularly patients of African ancestry, would be the best fit.
✕Less likely to help
People without a lupus kidney biopsy, children under 21, or patients whose kidney disease is caused by conditions other than lupus are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will digitize your lupus kidney biopsy slides or accept existing digital images and run computer algorithms to measure tissue features. The team will link those image-based measurements to your medical history and follow-up information to search for patterns tied to worsening kidney disease. By turning microscope observations into consistent numbers, they aim to reduce variability between pathologists and make predictions more reproducible. Ultimately the project tries to build tools that help doctors spot patients at higher risk earlier.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors identify who is more likely to lose kidney function and guide earlier, more targeted treatment to prevent kidney failure.
How similar studies have gone: Digital pathology and computational image analysis have shown promise in other kidney diseases, but applying these methods to large lupus nephritis cohorts is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
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University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hodgin, Jeffrey Benton — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Hodgin, Jeffrey Benton
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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.