How genetic switches may increase risk for juvenile arthritis
Epigenetic Mechanisms That Drive Genetic Risk in Juvenile Arthritis
This project looks at small genetic and epigenetic changes in immune cells that might raise the chance of juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11184500 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child takes part, researchers will study blood immune cells to find tiny genetic changes and chemical tags that change how genes turn on and off. They focus on CD4+ T cells and use techniques that map open DNA and histone marks to pinpoint likely causal DNA changes. The team will link those changes to the specific genes whose activity they alter and test how those changes affect cell behavior. The work uses human-derived samples and modern sequencing tools to build a clearer picture of why some children develop JIA.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (or their parents for consent) who can provide blood samples for research.
Not a fit: People without JIA or those seeking immediate treatment changes should not expect direct clinical benefit from taking part in this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets for treatments or biomarkers that help diagnose or predict juvenile idiopathic arthritis earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Related epigenetic and genetic-mapping approaches have identified causal variants in other autoimmune diseases, but applying these methods specifically to juvenile idiopathic arthritis is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jarvis, James N — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Jarvis, James N
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.