Understanding how B cells and macrophages drive lupus activity
Official title: A mechanistic understanding of B cell and macrophage plasticity in lupus disease activity states
Funded at Feinstein Institute for Medical Research · NIH-11394792 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A U19 grant aims to uncover how immune cells like B cells and macrophages influence lupus flares so future treatments can keep people with SLE in remission.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Feinstein Institute for Medical Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhasset, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2019 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $637,832 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI144306-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394792 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus who could potentially enter future trials or receive targeted therapies based on immune state.
✕Less likely to help
If your lupus does not involve the specific immune pathways studied, or if results do not translate into approved therapies, direct benefit may be limited.
What this research studies
If you have lupus, this project looks at the immune cells that fuel disease flares and aims to map how their behavior changes before a flare starts. Researchers will study mechanisms in B cells and myeloid cells to identify markers that predict when lupus will worsen. The findings could help guide which therapies are best for different patients and point to new treatment targets. The work focuses on translating immune insights into strategies that improve quality of life for people living with SLE.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to better patient stratification and targeted therapies that keep lupus in remission and reduce flares.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lupus research has linked B cell and myeloid cell activity to disease activity, with ongoing work showing promise for targeted strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Manhasset, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Diamond, Betty — Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
- Study coordinator: Diamond, Betty
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how DIS3L2 helps keep RNA in check to help lupus patients
A physician-scientist team is studying how a watchdog molecule for RNA (DIS3L2) may drive lupus-related immune problems, with the goal of uncovering new paths to treatment.
-
Pathogenic T cells in discoid lupus erythematosus
A doctor-scientist at Yale is studying why certain immune T cells cause skin damage in discoid lupus, with the goal of finding ways to reduce scarring and improve health for patients, especially African American women.
-
Glycoprotein urine markers that signal lupus nephritis treatment response
A novel test uses urine glycoprotein patterns to show how well lupus nephritis is responding to standard treatment.
-
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.
-
Antiviral factors that limit HIV in people with SLE
Researchers at Howard University are studying how immune factors in people with lupus may help limit HIV infection.
-
PTPRS and lupus nephritis: a new target to reduce kidney damage in lupus
Aims to understand how PTPRS contributes to kidney inflammation and scarring in lupus nephritis and explore targeting it to help patients.
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.