NIH-funded research Career grant

Understanding Immune Differences in Muscle Inflammation

Official title: Immunophenotypes in the Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies

Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11112549 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project aims to understand the unique immune system features in people with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies to find better ways to help them.

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVanderbilt University Medical Center
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Nashville, United States)
Project startJuly 26, 2022
Project endJune 30, 2027
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$163,516
NIH project number5K08AR080808-04
Project IDNIH-11112549 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

This research is relevant for patients diagnosed with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, especially those who also experience lung complications.

Less likely to help

Patients without idiopathic inflammatory myopathies or related conditions would not directly benefit from this specific research.

What this research studies

We want to learn more about the different ways the immune system acts in people with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, which are conditions causing muscle weakness and inflammation. By looking closely at immune cells and their gene activity, we hope to uncover specific patterns that explain why the disease affects people differently. This work will also explore how these immune patterns relate to lung problems that can occur with these conditions. Our goal is to connect these immune system insights with how the disease progresses in patients.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to identify specific types of inflammatory myopathies and develop more targeted treatments for patients.

How similar studies have gone: This project builds upon previous findings from single-cell analysis and applies advanced techniques to further explore the immune system in these conditions.

Where this research is happening

  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center
    Nashville, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Wilfong, Erin M — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  • Study coordinator: Wilfong, Erin M

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Immunophenotypes in inflammatory myopathies and linked lung disease

    A physician-scientist at Vanderbilt is pursuing how immune cells and gene activity differ in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies to find clues for better treatments.

    NIH research Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Nashville, United States · NIH-11372793

  • Exploring how specific genetic elements contribute to autoimmune muscle diseases.

    This study is looking at how certain genetic elements might cause muscle inflammation in people with autoimmune diseases that affect their muscles, and it hopes to find new ways to treat these conditions more effectively and with fewer side effects.

    NIH research University of Washington · Seattle, United States · NIH-11053538

  • How high-density lipoprotein function is affected in patients with inflammatory muscle diseases

    This study is looking at how a type of good cholesterol called HDL, which usually helps keep your blood vessels healthy, doesn't work properly in people with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), and it aims to find out why this happens and how it might lead to heart problems, so we can discover new ways to help.

    NIH research University of California Los Angeles · Los Angeles, United States · NIH-10908701

  • Investigating immune profiles in inflammatory muscle diseases

    This study is looking at how the immune system affects muscle inflammation in people with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) to find new ways to help improve treatment and care for patients like you.

    NIH research Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Nashville, United States · NIH-10877796

  • MTS109 treatment for refractory autoimmune diseases

    This trial tests whether MTS109 (an mRNA-LNP given by subcutaneous injection) is safe and tolerable in adults with moderate to severe autoimmune diseases that have not responded to standard treatments.

    Recruiting Early Phase 1 Shanghai Changzheng Hospital · Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · NCT07526350

  • AZD0120 CD19/BCMA CAR T-cell therapy for systemic sclerosis, inflammatory myopathies, and difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis

    This trial will try a dual-targeting CD19/BCMA CAR T-cell treatment (AZD0120) in adults with systemic sclerosis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, or difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis to see if it is safe and well tolerated.

    Recruiting at 5 sites Phase 1/2 AstraZeneca · Tucson, Arizona and 26 other locations · NCT07295847

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.