# DP22-002 Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in biologic and clinical SLE outcomes

> **NIH ALLCDC U01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2024 · $950,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
We propose to extend the California Lupus Epidemiology Study (CLUES), which has established a racially and
ethnically diverse cohort of over 450 individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The CLUES cohort
was launched from the successful California Lupus Surveillance Project, which established the incidence and
prevalence of SLE in San Francisco County. Individuals identified through the surveillance effort were invited to
participate in the longitudinal CLUES cohort. The study currently includes i) extensive clinical data, including
physician-assessed measures of SLE disease activity, medical history, SLE manifestations, and outcomes such
as damage; ii) biologic specimens and data, including genetic, epigenetic, gene expression and environmental
exposure information; and iii) data from structured interviews with participants covering sociodemographics,
healthcare access and gaps, symptoms, disability, and a wide variety of patient-reported outcomes. This
exceptionally broad and deep data collection has catalyzed a wide spectrum of SLE research studies, ranging
from the examination of clinical and patient-reported outcomes in SLE to studies of DNA methylation and gene
transcription across racially and ethnically diverse populations. Through data collection, analyses and
dissemination, the overarching aim of the CLUES cohort is to advance our understanding of the epidemiology,
biology, natural history, and outcomes of SLE, particularly among diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic
groups. In the renewal period, our aims are 1) to continue longitudinal data collection on CLUES participants,
including comprehensive patient-reported data, 2) to enhance and maintain a state-of-the-art biospecimen
repository and provide access to this valuable resource to investigators, and 3) to conduct two special projects,
one examining the metabolome during and after flares to gain insight into mechanisms of SLE disease activity,
and one examining the natural history of disability across the activity spectrum, including how flares may affect
disability trajectories. The overall project leverages outstanding institutional resources and builds on the proven
track-record of the investigators in building a successful administrative and management infrastructure for
CLUES, developing and maintaining longitudinal cohort studies, and creating effective systems for sharing
clinical data and biospecimens. CLUES is unique because there are very few population-based studies of Asians
or Hispanic-Americans with SLE, two groups that are disproportionately affected by the disease and who
comprise a significant and growing proportion of the U.S. population. In addition, we continue to address disease
flares, an area that is ripe for research and central to advancing knowledge about the natural history, outcomes,
biologic mechanisms of SLE and related health disparities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10846544
- **Project number:** 5U01DP006701-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Maria Dall'Era
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $950,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-30 → 2027-09-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10846544

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10846544, DP22-002 Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in biologic and clinical SLE outcomes (5U01DP006701-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10846544. Licensed CC0.

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