Lupus Nephritis: How T cells cause kidney damage and how to stop them
Official title: Pathogenesis of Lupus Nephritis
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11366056 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Yale will follow people and tissue samples to understand how certain immune cells cause kidney damage in lupus and explore ways to target them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | May 6, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $760,800 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AI152443-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11366056 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with systemic lupus erythematosus who have or are at risk for lupus nephritis and are undergoing kidney-related evaluations or biopsy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without kidney involvement or those not within the study's inclusion criteria may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how kidney-infiltrating T cells develop and cause tissue injury in lupus nephritis, using human samples and mouse models to map their origin and behavior. Researchers will examine the role of stem-like CD8 T cells in secondary lymphoid organs and how CD4 T cell support and cytokines drive their damaging activity in the kidney. By comparing human and mouse data, the study aims to identify therapeutic targets that could interrupt the harmful T cell pathways without compromising overall immunity. The work builds on prior findings showing a link between local microenvironment, T cell adaptation, and kidney damage, and seeks to translate these insights into potential treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to targeted therapies that prevent or lessen kidney damage in lupus patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in humans and mice supports a role for tissue-infiltrating T cells in lupus kidney damage, suggesting this approach could yield meaningful targets.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Craft, Joseph Edgar — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Craft, Joseph Edgar
Related research
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PTPRS and lupus nephritis: a new target to reduce kidney damage in lupus
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Objective classification of lupus nephritis using computer vision
A new computer vision tool uses deep learning to classify lupus nephritis from kidney tissue images to help doctors predict outcomes for patients with lupus.
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AI-powered look at lupus nephritis in humans and mice
Researchers will use artificial intelligence to compare kidney tissue from people with lupus nephritis to tissue from mouse models, aiming to understand why treatments work differently in humans.
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.