Stopping harmful joint tissue growth in rheumatoid arthritis
Official title: Establishing novel therapeutic strategies to target RA pannus formation
Funded at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center · NIH-11131011 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new treatment approach aims to block the growth of inflamed joint tissue (pannus) in people with rheumatoid arthritis who do not respond to current medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Jesse Brown VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01CX002565-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11131011 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with rheumatoid arthritis—especially patients whose disease has not responded to standard therapies, including veterans—would be the main candidates for this work.
✕Less likely to help
People with well-controlled RA, primarily non-inflammatory joint pain (like osteoarthritis), or unrelated conditions are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
From a patient's view, researchers are studying the damaged joint tissue called pannus and the way immune cells and new blood vessels talk to each other. They plan to change the metabolism of inflammatory macrophages so this harmful tissue formation slows or stops. The team will test these ideas using laboratory models and disease-relevant samples to find drug targets that affect multiple cell types in the pannus. The goal is to develop therapies that help people who have lost response to existing RA treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce joint inflammation and damage and improve pain, function, and quality of life for patients with treatment-resistant RA.
How similar studies have gone: Metabolism-targeting approaches in inflammatory disease are an emerging area with promising preclinical results, but targeting the macrophage–blood-vessel network in RA pannus is relatively novel and early-stage.
Where this research is happening
-
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shahrara, Shiva — Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Shahrara, Shiva
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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.