Understanding how skin and blood cell signals affect treatment response in children with dermatomyositis
Official title: Harnessing cutaneous transcriptional and myeloid cell signatures to understand treatment response in juvenile dermatomyositis
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11077252 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at why some kids with juvenile dermatomyositis don’t get better with usual treatments by checking their skin and blood for clues, so we can find better ways to help them feel better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | June 2, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $172,800 |
| NIH project number | 5K23AR080789-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11077252 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with juvenile dermatomyositis who are already receiving effective treatment and show no signs of treatment resistance may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), a serious autoimmune disease in children that can cause skin inflammation and muscle weakness. The study aims to explore the genetic and cellular signals in the skin and blood of affected children to identify why many do not respond to standard treatments. By analyzing these signals, researchers hope to uncover new biomarkers that can predict treatment outcomes and guide more effective therapies. The approach involves non-invasive skin sampling and detailed analysis of gene expression patterns over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies and better outcomes for children suffering from juvenile dermatomyositis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using molecular signatures to understand autoimmune diseases, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Turnier, Jessica Leigh — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Turnier, Jessica Leigh
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding why Dermatomyositis causes worse outcomes in women
A patient-centered project to understand why women with dermatomyositis, especially Black women, have more severe disease and death, and to build a regional patient registry to guide better care.
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Personalized Immunomonitoring for Juvenile Dermatomyositis
A personalized approach to monitoring immune signals in kids with juvenile dermatomyositis to better understand and track their disease.
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Precision therapies for dermatomyositis using single-cell RNA data and bioinformatics
A doctor-scientist team at a major hospital plans to find existing drugs that could treat dermatomyositis by analyzing patient cells at the single-cell level and testing promising options in the lab.
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Identifying targeted treatments for dermatomyositis using advanced genetic analysis
This study is looking at dermatomyositis, a tough autoimmune condition, to find better and safer treatments by examining blood and skin samples from patients to see how their immune system is affected, and then using that information to repurpose existing medications.
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Using a cannabinoid to relieve itching and inflammation in dermatomyositis
This study is looking at a new treatment that could help reduce the severe itching and inflammation caused by dermatomyositis, an autoimmune disease, and it's designed for people who are dealing with this condition.
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Anti-CD19/BCMA universal CAR-T cell therapy for refractory autoimmune diseases
This will try anti-CD19/BCMA universal CAR-T cell therapy in adults with refractory rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, systemic lupus, or systemic sclerosis to see if it is safe and can control their disease.
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.