Measuring skin changes in scleroderma with a new imaging method
Official title: Assessing spatial frequency domain imaging as an objective quantification of longitudinal skin changes in scleroderma
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11311281 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new, painless imaging method called SFDI would be tested to quantify skin changes in people with systemic sclerosis to see if it provides a more objective, reliable measure than current skin scoring.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 2, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $165,034 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR085317-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11311281 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) who have skin involvement and can participate in noninvasive skin imaging.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without skin involvement or unable to tolerate skin imaging procedures may not benefit.
What this research studies
People with systemic sclerosis often have painful, itchy skin tightening that affects daily life. This project tests Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging (SFDI) as an objective way to measure skin fibrosis over time, potentially capturing small changes that current methods miss. The study will compare SFDI results with the standard skin score and track changes in participants over time to see if SFDI can monitor disease progression or response to treatment. If successful, clinicians could have a faster, noninvasive tool to guide patient care and trial outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, SFDI could provide a more reliable and sensitive way to track skin changes in scleroderma, improving clinical decision-making and trial assessments.
How similar studies have gone: Prior data suggest SFDI correlates with skin changes and may outperform current measures, indicating potential success but requires prospective confirmation.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bujor, Andreea Monica — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Bujor, Andreea Monica
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Cell-level clues to skin scarring in systemic sclerosis and localized scleroderma
A study at the University of Pittsburgh is looking at how skin cells and their helpers change at the DNA level in adults and children with systemic sclerosis to find new targets to reduce scarring.
-
Pediatric Scleroderma: Mapping Cells and Tissues to Personalize Care
A study will map the different cell types and tissue patterns in skin from children with scleroderma to identify patient-specific disease subtypes that could guide targeted therapies.
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CD38 and NAD metabolism in scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) fibrosis
This grant explores how changes in NAD metabolism related to CD38 and NNMT may drive scarring in systemic sclerosis and tests new ways to stop it.
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ISG15-positive monocytes and SPP1 macrophages in scleroderma lung disease
This grant studies a specific immune cell pathway in systemic sclerosis with lung scarring to help predict how the disease progresses.
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Autoantibodies define scleroderma subgroups with distinct cancer links
Researchers are studying how specific autoantibodies in scleroderma patients relate to cancer timing and risk.
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.