Understanding how a specific immune signal affects rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Type I interferon Impacts Treatment Response in Rheumatoid Arthritis

NIH-funded research Hospital for Special Surgery · NIH-11126052

This work explores how a signal in your blood might help doctors choose the best treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionHospital for Special Surgery NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11126052 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Rheumatoid arthritis can be challenging to treat because it's hard to know which medication will work best for each person. This project focuses on a specific immune signal, called type I interferon (T1IFN), found in the blood before treatment. We believe that measuring this signal could help predict if a common medication, called a TNF inhibitor, will be effective for you. By studying blood and joint samples, we aim to understand how this signal influences the disease and treatment response, ultimately helping doctors personalize care.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This research is relevant for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, particularly those considering or currently receiving TNF inhibitor treatments.

Not a fit: Patients whose rheumatoid arthritis is well-controlled with current treatments or who are not candidates for TNF inhibitors may not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a blood test that helps doctors choose the most effective rheumatoid arthritis treatment for you from the start, avoiding ineffective therapies.

How similar studies have performed: Previous work by this team has shown promising results in predicting non-response to TNF inhibitors based on pre-treatment immune signals, suggesting this approach has a strong foundation.

Where this research is happening

New York, UNITED STATES

Researchers

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 below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.