Lung disease linked to systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children
Official title: Pathogenesis of Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Associated Lung Disease
Funded at Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-11326213 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how ongoing immune activation and some arthritis medicines may cause lung inflammation and breathing problems in children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | April 6, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $474,257 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR079524-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326213 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, especially those under 12 who have had macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) or early breathing symptoms, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Adults without SJIA and patients whose lung disease is already severe and irreversible are unlikely to get direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers will examine immune signals, especially interferon gamma (IFNγ), seen in children with SJIA who develop a dangerous lung condition. They will study lung immune cells called alveolar macrophages using patient samples and laboratory models to see how IFNγ affects their function. The team will also explore whether commonly used anti-IL-1 biologic treatments amplify lung inflammation. The goal is to connect the immune changes to lung damage so future therapies can be better targeted.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to targeted treatments or prevention strategies to reduce life-threatening lung disease in children with SJIA.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier reports have linked IFNγ and MAS to SJIA-associated lung disease, but the precise mechanisms are largely untested, so this project builds on early findings and is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schulert, Grant Sanford — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Schulert, Grant Sanford
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Deciphering What Drives Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in African American Children
This project looks at why African American children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis have more joint damage, using clinical data and genetic information to find factors that may explain the differences.
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Understanding how T cells make IFN-γ and IL-17 in kids with juvenile arthritis
A doctor-scientist at Vanderbilt is studying why certain immune cells in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis produce inflammatory signals, with the goal of improving diagnosis and treatment.
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Linking JIA Registry with Claims Data to Improve Understanding of Juvenile Arthritis
A study will connect the CARRA JIA patient registry with a large national claims database to see how well registry data match real-world care and outcomes for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
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Investigating the role of viruses and gut bacteria in arthritis flares in children
This study is looking at how certain viruses and bacteria in the gut might affect flare-ups of juvenile idiopathic arthritis in kids, hoping to find clues that could help manage these painful episodes better.
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Understanding lung disease in children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis
This study is looking at how a serious lung problem in some kids with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis happens, and it aims to find new ways to help treat or prevent this issue by understanding how a certain part of their immune system works.
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Understanding how immune cells produce inflammatory signals in children with arthritis
This study is looking at how certain immune cells in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis produce substances that cause inflammation, and it hopes to find genetic clues that could help improve how we diagnose and treat this condition.
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.