# Center for Lupus Research

> **NIH NIH P50** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2021 · $1,745,734

## Abstract

Program Director/Principal Investigator (Last, First, Middle): PD: Pascual, V. OVERVIEW
PROJECT SUMMARY
We propose an integrated, cooperative Center for Lupus Research (CLR) based at the Baylor Institute for
Immunology Research in Dallas, TX, and the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in Farmington, CT.
The goal of the CLR is to advance the knowledge of pathways and mechanisms that contribute to the
development and amplification of human Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and to develop assays and
tools to i) monitor these dysfunctional pathways and ii) stratify patients towards personalized therapies. The
scope and goals of the CLR are based on data accumulated through longitudinal assessment of pediatric lupus
patients followed for over a decade. Using validated clinical measures of disease activity (DA) and blood gene
expression profiling, we identified gene signatures correlating with DA at the cohort level. Personalized
immunomonitoring revealed, however, significant heterogeneity in molecular pathways correlating with DA at
the individual patient level. We now propose to capitalize on the expression profiling approaches we pioneered,
while leveraging the outstanding power of new genomic technologies, to address how the three most prevalent
signatures, related to IFN, Myeloid cells and Plasmablasts/Plasma Cells, underpin SLE pathogenesis.
Towards our goal, we gathered a multidisciplinary team of scientists (including immunologists, molecular
biologists, bioinformaticians and software engineers) and Physician-Scientists/Clinicians with deep experience
in the clinical management of SLE. This team has worked efficiently together for years—from bedside-to-bench
and from bench-to-bedside—to understand and treat human immunological diseases. The CLR is structured
around two complementary research projects, each of which adopts a translational, technology-driven
approach to understanding key molecular aspects of SLE. In Project 1, we will dissect cellular and molecular
components of these signatures. The analysis will proceed to the single cell level, will include flares and
remissions, and will interrogate steady and activation states. In Project 2, we will characterize the repertoire of
immune cell isoforms and epigenome profiles associated with the three major SLE molecular groups. In both
projects we will incorporate cutting-edge technologies and build upon our established expertise in molecular
immune profiling. The projects will be critically supported by two research cores. The Center's Clinical and
Sample Core will oversee all aspects of clinical assessment, clinical data collection and sample storage and
distribution. The Center's Genomics and Data Management Core will provide state-of-the-art genomics
technologies and data management capabilities for the Center. The Administrative Core will ensure effective
communication across the Center, and oversee pilot projects that complement the scope and goals of the core.
Successful complet...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10155418
- **Project number:** 5P50AR070594-05
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Maria Virginia Pascual
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,745,734
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-21 → 2022-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10155418

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10155418, Center for Lupus Research (5P50AR070594-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10155418. Licensed CC0.

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