NIH-funded research R03 grant

Subjective thinking challenges in adults with lupus as they age

Official title: Subjective Cognitive Dysfunction in Adults with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Across the Lifespan

Funded at Hospital for Special Surgery · NIH-11442899 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This grant aims to understand how lupus-related cognitive problems affect adults, especially older adults, and tests a real-time method to track daily fluctuations in those symptoms.

Quick facts

Grant typeR03 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionHospital for Special Surgery
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, UNITED STATES)
Project startSeptember 15, 2026
Project endAugust 31, 2028
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$179,000
NIH project number1R03TR005820-01A1
Project IDNIH-11442899 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults with systemic lupus erythematosus, including those aged 65 and older, who can participate in interviews and mobile assessments.

Less likely to help

Meni may not experience immediate benefits; some may not resonate with the interview topics or prefer other research types.

What this research studies

If funded, researchers will talk with adults living with lupus to hear how cognitive problems affect daily life and quality of life. They will use in-depth interviews to capture personal experiences and factors that worsen or improve those cognitive challenges. The study will also pilot a real-time diary method to see how subjective cognitive symptoms change from day to day. Findings could guide patient-centered support and future work on managing cognitive symptoms in lupus across the lifespan.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients with lupus may gain better understanding and tools to manage cognitive symptoms in daily life.

How similar studies have gone: Previous qualitative work suggests subjective cognitive symptoms are important to patients but real-time tracking in lupus is a newer approach.

Where this research is happening

  • Hospital for Special Surgery
    New York, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Lieber, Sarah Beth — Hospital for Special Surgery
  • Study coordinator: Lieber, Sarah Beth

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Thinking and brain changes in childhood lupus

    This project uses brain scans and cognitive tests to learn why children with lupus sometimes have trouble with thinking and school.

    NIH research Boston Children's Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11415453

  • Brain immune cells and cognitive trouble in lupus

    A study in lupus patients and mouse models looks at how brain macrophages may be linked to thinking problems.

    NIH research Northwestern University · Chicago, United States · NIH-11391085

  • Brain causes of thinking and mood problems in childhood lupus

    This project uses different brain scans and measures to find why children and teens with lupus have trouble with thinking, memory, or mood.

    NIH research Boston Children's Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11173802

  • Understanding cognitive issues in children with lupus

    This study is looking at how childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) affects kids' thinking and learning, using special brain imaging tools to understand what’s happening in their brains, so we can find better ways to help them.

    NIH research Boston Children's Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-10987200

  • Exploring how brain immune cells affect thinking problems in lupus patients

    This study is looking at how certain immune cells in the brain might affect thinking and memory problems in people with lupus, and it aims to find out if understanding these cells can help improve cognitive function for patients.

    NIH research Northwestern University at Chicago · Chicago, United States · NIH-10885942

  • Immunostimulatory short non-coding RNAs and lupus

    A study in people with lupus looks at tiny RNA pieces that may spark inflammation, to understand if they drive disease activity.

    NIH research Thomas Jefferson University · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-11497703

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.