Understanding how the COVID-19 vaccine works in patients with lupus and scleroderma
Official title: Mechanisms of BNT162b2 Vaccine Immunogenicity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or Scleroderma
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11047679 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how well the COVID-19 vaccine works for people with lupus and scleroderma, two autoimmune diseases, to see how their immune systems respond and to ensure the vaccine is safe for them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | March 4, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $729,999 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI182319-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11047679 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus or scleroderma.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without autoimmune conditions or those who are not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and scleroderma, both of which are autoimmune diseases. The study aims to identify how these patients respond to the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine, focusing on safety, efficacy, and the underlying mechanisms of their immune responses. By enrolling a larger cohort of patients, the research will analyze various immune markers and responses over time to better understand the variability in vaccine effectiveness among these immunocompromised individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved vaccination strategies and better health outcomes for patients with autoimmune diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown varying immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines in immunocompromised populations, indicating that this research is building on existing knowledge but is focused on a specific patient group.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Utz, Paul Joseph — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Utz, Paul Joseph
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine affects people with lupus or scleroderma
This project looks at immune responses to the Pfizer (BNT162b2) COVID-19 vaccine in people with lupus or scleroderma to understand why some have weaker protection.
-
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.
-
Mechanistic clues about lupus from immune disorders
This grant looks at why certain immune disorders in people with genetic immune problems lead to lupus-like symptoms, by studying patients and mouse models.
-
Subjective thinking challenges in adults with lupus as they age
This grant aims to understand how lupus-related cognitive problems affect adults, especially older adults, and tests a real-time method to track daily fluctuations in those symptoms.
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Mitochondrial targets of antibodies in lupus (SLE)
A Johns Hopkins-led study will identify which mitochondrial membrane proteins are targeted by autoantibodies in lupus patients to understand how these immune attacks fuel the 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.