Monitoring lupus disease activity with a blood protein panel
Official title: Monitoring Disease in Lupus
Funded at University of Houston · NIH-11372934 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at the University of Houston is testing a ten-protein blood panel to help track how active lupus is in patients from diverse backgrounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | March 8, 2019 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $576,843 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR074096-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372934 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) who may have lupus nephritis or other organ involvement and are available for biomarker testing across diverse ethnic backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with lupus who do not have active disease or who cannot provide usable biospecimens may not benefit from this biomarker panel.
What this research studies
This project builds on previous work to validate a 10-protein LN-10-plex that could indicate lupus activity using blood and other body fluids. Researchers will examine how these proteins correlate with disease symptoms across large, ethnically diverse patient groups. The goal is to create a reliable, easily measured biomarker set to aid diagnosis, monitoring, and predicting outcomes in lupus. The study uses existing patient samples and clinical data to extend validation of the protein panel with orthogonal methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more accurate and convenient monitoring of lupus activity using a simple blood test.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work identified serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and renal disease biomarkers; this renewal aims to validate a consistent LN-10-plex across larger, diverse cohorts.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mohan, Chandra — University of Houston
- Study coordinator: Mohan, Chandra
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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.