# Regulation of B cell Responses in SLE and Other Autoimmune Diseases

> **NIH NIH U19** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $4,394,852

## Abstract

The overarching objective of the Emory Autoimmunity Center of Excellence (ACE) U19 is to
decipher the molecular programs responsible for the aberrant B cell responses underpinning
autoimmune diseases. A central tenet of the Emory ACE is that unraveling the heterogeneity
of human autoimmune diseases and translating that knowledge into mechanistically based
treatments requires an integrated collaboration between physician-scientists, basic scientists,
and expert clinicians with access to large populations of well-characterized autoimmune
patients. Our fundamental goals are: (1) to understand B cell dysregulation in SLE using single
cell interrogation of their molecular roadmaps, and (2) to assemble a scientific and
technological platform that engages other ACE U19 and UM1 Centers through the
Collaborative Project to perform similar studies in other immune cells and autoimmune
disorders. These goals will be realized through a highly integrated collaboration between the
three components of the Scientific Program supported by an Administrative Core. In the
Principal Project, Dr. Sanz will ascertain the heterogeneity of effector B cells, their regulatory
programs, and their differential utilization according to disease endotypes, and investigate the
diversity and regulation of SLE memory cells. Specifically, his group will analyze germinal
center dependent and independent memory and the role of antigenic persistence in the
regulation of autoimmune and protective memory. In the Collaborative Project, Dr. Boss will
investigate the epigenetic regulation of B cells and other immune cells in SLE and other human
autoimmune diseases as part of the Collaborative Agenda that will be developed within the
new ACE centers. Finally, in the Pilot Project, Dr. Scharer will pursue the functional
characterization of SLE B cell differentiation using high-throughput loss-of-function and gain-of-
function CRISPR screens. The Emory ACE also proposes to continue to manage the ACE
Funds Management Core and to establish a centralized ACE Biorepository Core to coordinate
the collection, storage, and management of samples from the Emory ACE and ACE Clinical
Projects and their allocation for use in mechanistic studies. Collectively, the work proposed
should contribute greatly to the charter mission and goals of the Autoimmunity Centers of
Excellence Network.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10845033
- **Project number:** 2U19AI110483-11
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Ignacio E. Sanz
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $4,394,852
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2014-05-01 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10845033

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10845033, Regulation of B cell Responses in SLE and Other Autoimmune Diseases (2U19AI110483-11). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10845033. Licensed CC0.

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