# Methods and tools to integrate multi-omics datasets to understand preclinical autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases

> **NIH NIH U01** · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR · 2024 · $460,680

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Autoimmune or immune-mediated diseases affect 10% of the world population, and most conditions have no
cure. Existing treatment options are often broadly acting and have numerous side effects. Autoimmune diseases
often have a preclinical phase where a subset of symptoms occur, but they usually do not yet meet the diagnostic
criteria for the disease stage. Many conditions may also have an early stage where the symptoms are milder.
Early diagnosis at the preclinical phase or early disease stage is challenging as the symptoms are usually non-
speciﬁc. Moreover, only a fraction of individuals will progress to disease stages, which poses challenges for
clinical interventions. Understanding the genetic basis for preclinical immune-mediated diseases and dissecting
risk factors that underlie the progression from preclinical to disease stage is critical. In this application, we
propose to develop a series of methods and software tools to better detect genetic associations with preclinical
to disease stage progressions, perform integrative genomic analysis to identify genetic signatures underlie the
progression, and dissect genetic contribution to sex differences in autoimmune diseases. The methods and tools
will be broadly applicable to a myriad of diseases. The proposed development received enthusiastic support
from researchers studying psoriasis, Sjogren's disease, lupus, vitiligo, etc. The proposed new tools can
profoundly impact the understanding the genetic basis for preclinical diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10974596
- **Project number:** 1U01AI185638-01
- **Recipient organization:** PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Dajiang Liu
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $460,680
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-05 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10974596

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10974596, Methods and tools to integrate multi-omics datasets to understand preclinical autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases (1U01AI185638-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10974596. Licensed CC0.

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