# K24 Advancing Reproductive Rheumatology

> **NIH NIH K24** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $140,099

## Abstract

Abstract:
Insufficient research exists on the reproductive health of women with rheumatic disease, leaving young women
without reliable guidance regarding contraception and pregnancy. This knowledge gap has resulted in alarming
statistics: 15% of pregnancies in women with rheumatic disease occur while taking teratogens, increasing the
risk of pregnancy loss to 40% and birth defects to 25%. Moreover, women with SLE experience preterm birth
and preeclampsia rates that are 3-6 times higher than healthy women and have remained stagnant for two
decades. The scarcity of trained researchers and mentors poses a significant obstacle to progress in this field.
To address these challenges, this proposal aims to enhance the scientific rigor of research and expand the
workforce of clinician-scientists in reproductive rheumatology through mentoring and hands-on research. Dr.
Clowse, a leading reproductive rheumatologist, is exceptionally qualified to bridge these gaps. She has multiple
federally-funded grants, delivers lectures worldwide, publishes extensively, and mentors numerous trainees. Dr.
Clowse will leverage her unique research platforms to provide mentees with practical research experience
through two approaches: 1.) Identifying risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes and 2.) Developing and
testing clinical tools to enhance reproductive rheumatology care. These projects will expose trainees to outcomes
and biomarker analysis, qualitative studies, and implementation science, thereby equipping them with the diverse
skill set necessary for addressing the broad range of clinical questions in this field. Additionally, mentees will
gain firsthand experience in patient-centered research through regular meetings with a patient collaborator
group. They will develop skills in disseminating research findings through manuscripts, oral presentations, and
content creation for widely-used websites. To foster the nascent reproductive rheumatology community and
extend mentoring beyond Duke University, Dr. Clowse will host a new Reproductive Rheumatology National Lab
Meeting as a monthly teleconference with the goal of increasing the rigor of research and facilitate collaboration
within the community. New research in this proposal will target active lupus nephritis during pregnancy, as it
poses a serious threat to the lives and long-term health of mother and child. With new treatments for nephritis,
there is an opportunity to improve outcomes, provided that pregnant women receive optimal treatment. Dr.
Clowse will develop a patient-centered, data-driven decision tool to guide the treatment of active lupus nephritis
during pregnancy with the goal of transforming care in these high-risk pregnancies. Over the next five years, Dr.
Clowse will train clinician-scientists in reproductive rheumatology, publish novel findings, develop decision tools,
and establish a collaborative mentoring program. By expanding her mentoring skills, she will effectively guide
junior investi...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10864531
- **Project number:** 1K24AR084072-01
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Megan E.B. Clowse
- **Activity code:** K24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $140,099
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-20 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10864531

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10864531, K24 Advancing Reproductive Rheumatology (1K24AR084072-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10864531. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*