Immune signals in African American women with hidradenitis suppurativa
Official title: Identification of Specific Immune Responses in African American Female Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Funded at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · NIH-11261988 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at genetic and immune differences linked to hidradenitis suppurativa in African American women to help explain why the disease is more severe in some groups.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $219,799 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AR083553-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11261988 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are African American women with a confirmed diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa who can provide a blood or saliva sample and medical history.
✕Less likely to help
People without HS or those seeking immediate new treatments are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this genetic research.
What this research studies
You would be part of a study that compares genetic and immune data from African American women with hidradenitis suppurativa to people of other ancestries and sexes. The team will use whole-genome sequencing to search for rare and common genetic variants and analyze immune features in patient samples. They will combine new data from their cohorts with large resources like the All of Us whole-genome dataset to find ancestry- or sex-specific risk signals. The goal is to clarify biological reasons for racial and sex differences in HS and identify targets for better care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological causes of HS in African American women and guide more personalized treatments or prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Genetic research on HS is limited—only one GWAS has been published—so this approach builds on limited prior evidence and is relatively novel in focusing on ancestry and sex differences.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mi, Qing-Sheng — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Mi, Qing-Sheng
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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.