# Novel Nontoxic Therapeutic Interventions for Autoimmune Inflammatory Disease

> **NIH NIH UM1** · FEINSTEIN INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH · 2020 · $83,750

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Despite advances and treatments in autoimmune disease, there remains an unmet need for safer
and more effective therapies that are tailored to the individual patient. These advances cannot
occur without significant advances in our knowledge and understanding of disease mechanisms.
With support from the Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence, we assembled a consortium of
outstanding collaborating sites 5 years ago to form “The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Center for Clinical Research in Autoimmune Disease”. The overarching theme of our Center is
that tissue injury occurring in autoimmune disease is often the end-result of multiple and often
redundant inflammatory pathways and mediators (cytokines). We continue to believe that an
anti-inflammatory approach that modulates multiple inflammatory mediators will be associated
with greater clinical efficacy and we will seek agents with improved tolerability and a better
safety profile than therapeutic options that are currently available. Towards this end, we now
propose two clinical trials, one targeting cognitive impairment in SLE and the other in Juvenile
Rheumatoid Arthritis. We are proposing to “repurpose” a safe, widely available angiotensin
inhibitor that crosses the blood-brain-barrier for treatment of the cognitive impairment that
affects so many patients with SLE. In the laboratory, this medication has been shown to reduce
neuronal injury by microglia. We will use sophisticated brain imaging techniques to evaluate the
effects in patients with SLE. The second study we propose is to use “bioelectronic" medicine to
reduce arthritis in children with JIA (juvenile idiopathic arthritis). We will activate the
cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway by stimulating the vagus nerve with a non-invasive, non-
painful mild electric current. In the laboratory, stimulating the vagus nerve reduces the
production of inflammatory cytokines. Both studies are designed to evaluate efficacy and safety,
and both are accompanied by integrated mechanistic studies to learn more about the biologic
effects of the intervention. Each is also designed to identify potential biomarkers of response.
This Center will continue to strive to conduct collaborative innovative clinical trials that will 1)
promote improved patient outcomes through control of inflammatory disease and a reduction of
organ damage and dysfunction, 2) result in a better understanding of the pathogenesis of
autoimmune diseases and mechanisms for therapeutic responses, 3) lead to a personalized
medicine approach to treatment of autoimmune disease 4) evaluate agents that do not cause
clinically significant immunosuppresion and 5) conduct collaborative innovative clinical trials
that would not be pursued by the pharmaceutical industry.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9916702
- **Project number:** 5UM1AI110494-07
- **Recipient organization:** FEINSTEIN INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** Cynthia Aranow
- **Activity code:** UM1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $83,750
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-05-01 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9916702

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9916702, Novel Nontoxic Therapeutic Interventions for Autoimmune Inflammatory Disease (5UM1AI110494-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9916702. Licensed CC0.

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