In vivo engineered CD19/CD138 CAR-T cells for lupus (autoimmune disease)
Official title: SBIR: In vivo engineering of dual CD19/CD138 CAR-T cells for treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Funded at Mucommune, LLC · NIH-11316654 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to create a one-step, in-body CAR-T therapy to help people with systemic lupus erythematosus by targeting B cells and autoantibody production.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mucommune, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Morrisville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 11, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,006,467 |
| NIH project number | 1R44AI197810-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11316654 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with severe, treatment-refractory SLE who have high autoantibody activity and overall disease activity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with lupus who do not respond to B-cell–targeted therapies or who have contraindications to CAR-T approaches may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant funds creating a CAR-T approach that engineers T cells directly inside the body to attack cells driving lupus. The approach uses a platform that transduces circulating T-cells without the need to extract them first, potentially speeding up treatment and reducing costs. It focuses on CD19/CD138 targets to deplete B-cells and lower autoantibody levels, aiming for meaningful disease control in patients with SLE.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could shorten treatment times and make CAR-T therapy more affordable for people with lupus.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies of CAR-T in lupus showed B-cell depletion and symptom improvement, supporting potential benefit for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Mucommune, LLC
Morrisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Ming — Mucommune, LLC
- Study coordinator: Yang, Ming
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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.