How early autoimmune changes can lead to lupus
Mechanisms of New-Onset Autoimmunity/Longitudinal Immune Systems Analysis (MONA-LISA)
Researchers are comparing blood, urine, and clinical information from people with mild or early autoimmune signs to find patterns that predict who will develop systemic lupus erythematosus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322039 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses clinical data and stored biospecimens from the SMILE trial to follow people with incomplete or early signs of lupus over time and look for immune, genomic, and metabolic changes. The team will analyze DNA, RNA, serum, plasma, peripheral blood immune cells, and urine collected before, during, and after some participants progressed to SLE. They will build detailed immune profiles and atlases to spot early warning signs and potential drug targets. If you donated samples to SMILE or have early autoimmune markers, this work aims to help future diagnosis and prevention efforts.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with incomplete lupus erythematosus or early/minimally symptomatic autoimmunity (for example positive antinuclear or other autoantibodies) are the ideal candidates for this type of research.
Not a fit: People with long-standing or organ-damaging SLE or with unrelated autoimmune conditions may not see direct short-term benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could enable tests that predict who will develop lupus and reveal targets for treatments to stop progression before organ damage occurs.
How similar studies have performed: Other longitudinal biospecimen studies have found promising biomarker leads, but reliable clinical prediction tools for progression to SLE remain limited, so this approach builds on prior work but is not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karp, David R — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Karp, David R
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.