Hidden brain changes in people with lupus who are in remission
Official title: Project 2: Assessing Brain Dysfunction in Clinically Quiescent SLE
Funded at Feinstein Institute for Medical Research · NIH-11406920 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses brain scans, blood tests, and thinking tests to look for hidden brain problems in people whose lupus is currently quiet.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Feinstein Institute for Medical Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhasset, United States) |
| Project start | May 9, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $617,070 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AI172523-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11406920 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with systemic lupus erythematosus who are in long-term clinical remission are the main candidates, with some people who have active disease and healthy volunteers included for comparison.
✕Less likely to help
People without lupus, children, or individuals who cannot safely undergo MRI or PET scans are unlikely to be eligible or to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
If you join, you would have brain imaging (FDG PET, microglial PET, and MRI), blood tests for inflammation-related markers, and neuropsychological testing to measure thinking and memory. The team will compare people with long-term inactive lupus, people with active lupus, and healthy volunteers to find patterns that differ. About 60 people with inactive lupus, 20 with active disease, and 31 healthy controls will be studied at baseline, and those with inactive lupus will be re-tested after 18–24 months or if their lupus flares. The goal is to link imaging and blood markers to thinking performance and risk of future relapse.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help doctors detect hidden brain inflammation earlier and guide treatments to prevent cognitive decline or future lupus flares.
How similar studies have gone: Related imaging and blood-marker approaches are relatively new in lupus but preliminary findings suggest hidden brain changes can be detected, making this a promising but not yet proven approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Manhasset, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mackay, Meggan — Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
- Study coordinator: Mackay, Meggan
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.