Finding lupus kidney inflammation early with a urine protein test
Clinical applications of urine proteomics to lupus nephritis
Testing whether a urine protein test can detect early kidney inflammation in people with lupus before permanent damage occurs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11327251 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You or people like you in the Hopkins Lupus Cohort will have urine samples analyzed for specific proteins and for a full proteomic profile. The team will measure proteins such as IL-16, CD163, and neutrophil-related proteins in samples collected within three months before kidney protein appeared. They will compare people who later developed biopsy-proven lupus nephritis to those who did not to find a predictive panel. The goal is a urine test that signals kidney inflammation early so treatment can begin sooner and avoid permanent nephron loss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with systemic lupus (SLE) being followed for disease activity who do not yet have significant proteinuria but are at risk for developing lupus nephritis.
Not a fit: People who already have established, irreversible kidney damage or late-stage kidney disease are unlikely to benefit from an early-detection urine test.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable earlier, less toxic treatment and help prevent irreversible kidney damage in people with lupus.
How similar studies have performed: Previous NIH AMP urine proteomic work has identified markers like IL-16 and CD163 linked to kidney inflammation, so this builds on promising but still emerging evidence.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fava, Andrea — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Fava, Andrea
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 below.