Investigating how blood vessels affect sex differences in rheumatoid arthritis
Official title: The role of high endothelial venules in sex dimorphism in rheumatoid arthritis
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10739128 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why rheumatoid arthritis tends to be worse for women than men by examining special blood vessels that might be involved in the disease, hoping to find new ways to help those living with this condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $407,719 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AR082084-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10739128 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis who experience severe symptoms and disease progression.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are male or those with other autoimmune conditions unrelated to sex differences may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the mechanisms behind why rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects women more severely than men. It focuses on high endothelial venules, which are specialized blood vessels that may play a crucial role in the disease's development. By examining these blood vessels, the study aims to uncover how they contribute to the inflammation and joint damage seen in RA, particularly in females. The findings could lead to better understanding and treatment options for those affected by this autoimmune condition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments specifically targeting the unique aspects of rheumatoid arthritis in women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding the role of blood vessels in autoimmune diseases can lead to significant advancements in treatment, suggesting this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sawada, Junko — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Sawada, Junko
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Gut microbes and methotrexate: boosting RA treatment through microbiome targets
Researchers are studying how gut bacteria affect how well methotrexate works for people with rheumatoid arthritis, aiming to make MTX effective for more patients.
-
Hybrid biomaterial system to boost immunotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis
A new, patient-facing immunotherapy approach uses specialized particles to retrain the immune system to calm RA in adults.
-
Role of Stabilin receptors in rheumatoid arthritis
A short study to understand how certain scavenger receptors may influence the development and progression of rheumatoid arthritis in adults.
-
IgG glycosylation and endothelial FcγRIIB: understanding RA-related heart and blood vessel disease
This project looks at how rheumatoid arthritis affects blood vessels and clotting, with the goal of uncovering new ways to prevent heart and stroke risk for people with RA.
-
Risk factors and biomarkers for progression of subclinical RA-related lung disease
This study follows people with rheumatoid arthritis to understand who develops lung disease and what biomarkers predict it.
-
Pregnancy changes in rheumatoid arthritis and new treatment ideas
This research seeks to understand why some women’s rheumatoid arthritis improves during pregnancy and how to predict and mimic that effect to make treatments safer and more effective for pregnant patients.
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.