Thinking and brain changes in childhood lupus
Official title: Biobehavioral Basis and Outcomes of Cognitive Dysfunction in Childhood-Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11415453 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses brain scans and cognitive tests to learn why children with lupus sometimes have trouble with thinking and school.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $20,196 |
| NIH project number | 3R21AR083599-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415453 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents diagnosed with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus who can undergo brain imaging and cognitive testing would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Adults with adult-onset lupus, children whose cognitive issues are due to unrelated causes, or anyone unable to have MRI/fNIRS scans would likely not benefit directly from participating.
What this research studies
If your child has childhood-onset lupus, the team will use noninvasive brain imaging (fNIRS and MRI), diffusion scans of white matter, and measurements of brain chemicals to look for patterns linked to thinking problems. They will compare imaging findings with cognitive testing, school function, and symptoms to understand how inflammation and the brain’s barriers like the choroid plexus might be involved. The work is cross-sectional, meaning children come in for scans and testing at a single time point so researchers can link brain features to current thinking and behavior. Results may point to signals doctors could use to catch or monitor cognitive problems earlier.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors detect thinking problems earlier and guide better support and treatments for children with lupus.
How similar studies have gone: Prior imaging studies have linked reduced brain volumes to cognitive problems in childhood lupus, but combining functional imaging, diffusion measures, and choroid plexus analysis is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Upadhyay, Jaymin a — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Upadhyay, Jaymin a
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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.