Spatial map of disease-driving cell networks in Sjögren's disease
Official title: Spatial Dissection of Pathogenic Endotypes and Therapeutic Mechanisms in Sjögren's Disease
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11441996 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to map how disease-causing cells talk to each other in Sjögren's disease and see how this network changes with therapy to guide better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | August 28, 2026 |
| Project end | August 27, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $310,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R03DE036362-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11441996 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Sjögren's disease who have tissue samples or are willing to contribute samples and participate in analyses related to their disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Sjögren's disease or those unable to provide tissue samples may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project will create a detailed map of where pathogenic cells live in tissue and how they communicate, using advanced single-cell and spatial technologies. By analyzing samples from Sjögren's patients and leveraging data from a completed trial of a JAK inhibitor, the team aims to identify architectural features that predict response to therapy. The goal is to build a computational framework and generate initial data that could power a larger, later clinical study. The work focuses on translating complex tissue biology into actionable targets for future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to more precise, effective therapies for Sjögren's disease by targeting the key cell networks driving tissue damage.
How similar studies have gone: Prior spatial and single-cell approaches have begun to reveal how cell networks relate to treatment response in autoimmune diseases, with promising clues but still early-stage.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Jinze — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Liu, Jinze
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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.