NIH-funded research R01 grant

Pharmacokinetically guided dosing of mycophenolate mofetil for pediatric lupus nephritis

Official title: The Pediatric Lupus Nephritis Mycophenolate Mofetil (PLUMM) Study

Funded at Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-11333765 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A kid-focused trial will test whether adjusting mycophenolate mofetil dosing by pharmacokinetics improves kidney remission for children with proliferative lupus nephritis.

More Lupus research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cincinnati, United States)
Project startJuly 15, 2022
Project endApril 30, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$534,933
NIH project number5R01AR079124-05
Project IDNIH-11333765 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal participants are children with proliferative lupus nephritis eligible for MMF therapy.

Less likely to help

Patients not meeting inclusion criteria or those unable to tolerate MMF may not benefit.

What this research studies

This trial enrolls children with proliferative lupus nephritis to compare pharmacokinetically guided MMF dosing against conventional weight-based dosing over 104 weeks. It is a randomized, double-blind study designed to see if precision dosing leads to better kidney outcomes and acceptable safety in a pediatric population. The primary goal is to measure the proportion achieving partial kidney remission by week 26, with a key secondary goal of complete remission. The study uses careful monitoring to tailor dosing and minimize adverse effects while maintaining treatment efficacy.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, children with lupus nephritis could experience higher kidney response rates and potentially fewer drug-related problems.

How similar studies have gone: Previous adult data suggest that PK-guided dosing could improve outcomes; this pediatric trial tests that approach directly in kids.

Where this research is happening

  • Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
    Cincinnati, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Brunner, Hermine I — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
  • Study coordinator: Brunner, Hermine I

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.