How obesity-related inflammation affects biologic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis
Obesity-Induced Inflammatory Mediators Predict Lack of Response in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Starting Biological Therapies
This work looks at whether obesity-linked proteins and lipids explain why some people with rheumatoid arthritis don't improve after starting biologic medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171472 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will collect blood samples when you start a biologic and measure obesity-related proteins (like adipokines) and fatty-acid–derived lipid mediators. They will combine multiple markers into biomarker "signatures" and compare those patterns with how well people respond to their biologic medicines over time. The team will also consider body-weight and other clinical factors to see which combinations predict poor treatment response. The goal is to develop tests that could help doctors choose the best biologic for each person with RA.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with rheumatoid arthritis who are about to start or have just started a biologic therapy, including those with overweight or obesity, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without rheumatoid arthritis or RA patients who are not starting biologic treatment (for example on stable non-biologic therapy) are unlikely to be eligible or directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could help match people with rheumatoid arthritis to biologic drugs they're most likely to benefit from, reducing trial-and-error treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown links between higher body weight and worse RA outcomes and early biomarker approaches are promising, but reliable biomarker signatures for predicting biologic response are not yet established.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guma, Monica — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Guma, Monica
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.