New approaches to lupus-related kidney inflammation
Official title: Lupus nephritis: novel insights in the pathogenesis and treatment
Funded at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NIH-11324178 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how immune cells and kidney cells interact to cause lupus-related kidney damage and explores targeted treatments for people with lupus nephritis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,211,043 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AI179405-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11324178 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with systemic lupus erythematosus who have active or recent lupus nephritis, including individuals from Black and Asian backgrounds who commonly experience higher rates of LN, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without lupus or those whose kidney disease is caused by conditions other than lupus are unlikely to receive direct benefit, and patients already on long-term dialysis may not benefit from kidney-targeted therapies.
What this research studies
You would be part of work that examines how the immune system and cells that live in the kidney cause inflammation and injury in lupus nephritis. Researchers will analyze urine for molecular signals from podocytes and tubular cells that reflect what is happening inside the kidney, and study tissue features such as newly formed high endothelial venules. The team will combine laboratory models, patient samples, and bioinformatics to map these interactions and identify potential targets. They will also explore ways to deliver treatments directly to kidney-resident cells to try to reduce side effects from systemic therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to urine-based markers that reflect kidney damage and to kidney-targeted treatments that work better and cause fewer side effects than current systemic therapies.
How similar studies have gone: While a few drugs have recently been approved for lupus nephritis, approaches that target kidney-resident cells and use urine molecular signatures are relatively new and not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tsokos, George C — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Tsokos, George C
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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.