NIH-funded research Career grant

Understanding how a specific immune signal affects rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Official title: Type I interferon Impacts Treatment Response in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Funded at Hospital for Special Surgery · NIH-11126052 · Data updated 2026-11-12

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

More Rheumatoid Arthritis research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionHospital for Special Surgery
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, UNITED STATES)
Project startJuly 1, 2022
Project endJune 30, 2027
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$197,640
NIH project number5K08AI166075-04
Project IDNIH-11126052 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

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

Less likely to help

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.

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.

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 gone: 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

  • Hospital for Special Surgery
    New York, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Wampler Muskardin, Theresa — Hospital for Special Surgery
  • Study coordinator: Wampler Muskardin, Theresa

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.