Understanding T cell immunity in a type of blood vessel inflammation
Official title: T Cell Immunity in Giant Cell Arteritis
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-10992659 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) to understand why the immune system goes into overdrive and how that can cause serious problems, with the hope of finding new ways to help people with this condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2018 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $581,040 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL142068-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-10992659 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Giant Cell Arteritis who are experiencing symptoms related to the condition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of vasculitis or those not diagnosed with Giant Cell Arteritis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA), a serious condition that affects large blood vessels and can lead to severe complications like blindness and stroke. The study focuses on how certain immune checkpoints fail, leading to excessive T cell activity that contributes to the disease. By examining immune cells from GCA patients, researchers aim to uncover the mechanisms behind this autoimmune response and identify potential therapeutic targets. The approach includes detailed cellular mapping and functional experiments to understand the role of specific proteins in regulating immune responses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that better control T cell activity and reduce the risk of severe complications in patients with Giant Cell Arteritis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding immune checkpoint failures in autoimmune diseases, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weyand, Cornelia M. — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Weyand, Cornelia M.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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T Cell Immunity in Giant Cell Arteritis
A study at Mayo Clinic Rochester is looking at how specific immune signals go wrong in giant cell arteritis to better understand why it damages the aorta and its vessels.
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MRI scans to detect artery and eye inflammation in giant cell arteritis
This work uses combined orbital and cranial vessel-wall MRI to find artery and eye inflammation in people with giant cell arteritis.
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Using MRI to improve diagnosis and treatment of giant cell arteritis
This study is testing a new type of MRI that looks closely at the blood vessels in your head to help doctors better understand and treat giant cell arteritis, which can cause vision problems, so you can get the right care without taking extra medications that might not be needed.
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How optic nerve swelling changes after starting steroids in giant cell arteritis
This study tests how quickly the optic nerve sheath swelling decreases after starting glucocorticoids in people with newly diagnosed giant cell arteritis.
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Precision care for giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica
This long-term observational project will follow adults with giant cell arteritis or polymyalgia rheumatica to see if regular imaging, eye exams, blood tests, and immune cell profiling can better predict aortic complications and steroid side effects over 5–10 years.
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Ultrasound lesions in temporal and axillary arteries and relapse risk in giant cell arteritis.
We will test whether lesions seen on ultrasound of the temporal and axillary arteries can predict relapse in people with giant cell arteritis.
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.