Neutrophil signaling and inflammation in ANCA vasculitis
Official title: Molecular Imaging to Identify Regulators of G-protein Signaling Proteins in Human Neutrophils and Their Role in Vasculitis
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11232306 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses special molecular imaging to learn how signaling proteins in neutrophils affect inflammation in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | November 15, 2024 |
| Project end | October 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $83,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AI188350-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11232306 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis who are willing to provide blood samples for laboratory study.
✕Less likely to help
People without ANCA vasculitis or whose disease is driven by unrelated mechanisms are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
We will examine neutrophils from people with ANCA vasculitis to see how specific Regulators of G-protein Signaling (RGS) proteins control cell responses to inflammatory signals like chemokines, LTB4, and C5a. Using molecular imaging and biochemical methods, the team will map interactions between RGS proteins (including RGS18 and RGS1) and the PI3K/Akt pathway that influence neutrophil activation. The work focuses on mechanisms that may drive blood vessel inflammation and relapses in ANCA vasculitis. Findings could point to molecules that modify neutrophil behavior and guide safer, more targeted therapies in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal new molecular targets to prevent neutrophil-driven inflammation and reduce relapses or the need for broad immunosuppression in ANCA vasculitis.
How similar studies have gone: Related studies support roles for PI3K/Akt in immune cell activation, but applying molecular imaging to RGS proteins in human neutrophils and linking them to ANCA vasculitis is a new and relatively untested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schmider, Angela Bair — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Schmider, Angela Bair
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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.