Immunophenotypes in inflammatory myopathies and linked lung disease
Official title: Immunophenotypes in the Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11372793 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A physician-scientist at Vanderbilt is pursuing how immune cells and gene activity differ in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies to find clues for better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | July 26, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $163,516 |
| NIH project number | 5K08AR080808-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372793 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients diagnosed with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, including those with lung involvement such as interstitial lung disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without inflammatory myopathies or without access to specialized care at participating centers may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports a physician-scientist to study immune cell types and gene activity in inflammatory myopathies, and how these profiles relate to lung involvement over time. The work combines high-dimensional immune profiling with clinical data to identify disease subtypes and potential therapeutic targets. The plan includes cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, plus applying single-cell RNA data to understand dysregulated pathways in specific immune cells. The goal is to translate complex molecular signatures into insights that could guide personalized care for patients with inflammatory myopathies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more precise diagnoses and sooner access to targeted therapies based on their immune profiles.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using immune profiling in inflammatory diseases have yielded actionable insights, supporting the potential impact of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wilfong, Erin M — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Wilfong, Erin M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding Immune Differences in Muscle Inflammation
This project aims to understand the unique immune system features in people with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies to find better ways to help them.
-
Exploring how specific genetic elements contribute to autoimmune muscle diseases.
This study is looking at how certain genetic elements might cause muscle inflammation in people with autoimmune diseases that affect their muscles, and it hopes to find new ways to treat these conditions more effectively and with fewer side effects.
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How high-density lipoprotein function is affected in patients with inflammatory muscle diseases
This study is looking at how a type of good cholesterol called HDL, which usually helps keep your blood vessels healthy, doesn't work properly in people with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), and it aims to find out why this happens and how it might lead to heart problems, so we can discover new ways to help.
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Investigating immune profiles in inflammatory muscle diseases
This study is looking at how the immune system affects muscle inflammation in people with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) to find new ways to help improve treatment and care for patients like you.
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MTS109 treatment for refractory autoimmune diseases
This trial tests whether MTS109 (an mRNA-LNP given by subcutaneous injection) is safe and tolerable in adults with moderate to severe autoimmune diseases that have not responded to standard treatments.
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AZD0120 CD19/BCMA CAR T-cell therapy for systemic sclerosis, inflammatory myopathies, and difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis
This trial will try a dual-targeting CD19/BCMA CAR T-cell treatment (AZD0120) in adults with systemic sclerosis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, or difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis to see if it is safe and well tolerated.
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.