Functional markers to guide treatment in systemic sclerosis–related lung disease
Official title: Functional Response Biomarkers for Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11400497 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research grant at USC is studying blood biomarkers that show whether medicines are helping people with systemic sclerosis–related interstitial lung disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $674,749 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL174555-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400497 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with systemic sclerosis and ILD who are starting or adjusting therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not dealing with systemic sclerosis or ILD-related lung disease, or those not undergoing treatment changes, may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks for circulating biomarkers that indicate whether a therapy is working early in the course of systemic sclerosis–associated ILD. By identifying reliable signals in blood tests, doctors could tailor treatments before irreversible lung damage occurs. The team will collect samples and correlate biomarker changes with clinical outcomes to find patterns of response. If successful, these biomarkers could help personalize therapy and reduce unnecessary exposure to ineffective drugs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Patients could receive better-personalized treatment plans and avoid prolonged use of ineffective therapies, potentially slowing lung damage.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests circulating biomarkers can reflect treatment response, but reliable SSc-ILD-specific markers are still being validated.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Volkmann, Elizabeth R — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Volkmann, Elizabeth R
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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.