# Molecular and Genetic Characteristics of Progressive Rheumatoid Arthritis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease

> **NIH NIH R03** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2020 · $66,930

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disorder affecting approximately 1.3 million people in the
United States. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common lung complication of RA with increasing prevalence
and mortality. Although RA-associated ILD is similar to other types of lung fibrosis, little is known about the
molecular and genetic characteristics and natural history of RA-associated ILD, both early and advanced forms
of disease. Some studies have suggested that there is a spectrum of RA-associated ILD with approximately
10% of RA patients having advanced disease, and another 30% with early disease, half of whom will progress.
It has also been shown that clinical risk factors and peripheral blood molecular markers may enhance the
assessment and prognostication of individuals with RA-associated ILD.
 In this proposal, the applicant hypothesizes that a clinical predictive model composed of risk factors,
functional decrements, and molecular and genetic markers can predict the development and progression of
both early and advanced forms of disease. Specifically, in her first aim, she will assess the ability of a risk
score to identify subclinical and clinically-evident RA-ILD and evaluate if pulmonary auscultation, respiratory
symptoms, and/or functional decrements can enhance the performance of this clinical predictive model. In her
second aim, she will determine if the risk score correlates with disease progression through fully characterizing
progressive subclinical and clinically-evident RA-associated ILD in the BRASS and TRAIL1 populations with
respect to clinical findings, respiratory symptoms, functional decrements, and molecular markers. In her third
aim, she will identify genetic markers associated with the development and progression of RA-associated ILD
to determine if they can improve the ability of the clinical model to identify progressive disease. To achieve the
aims of this proposal, a longitudinal cohort of well-characterized RA patients with early and advanced ILD will
be developed with detailed molecular and genetic phenotyping, providing an invaluable resource for future
longitudinal studies.
 The successful completion of this research will provide us with novel non-invasive ways to identify those at
risk for progressive RA-associated ILD as well as a better understanding of the characteristics and natural
history of early disease. This will enable closer monitoring and earlier treatment of affected individuals,
potentially leading to decreased morbidity and mortality in individuals afflicted with RA-associated ILD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9983815
- **Project number:** 5R03HL148484-02
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Tracy Jennifer Doyle
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $66,930
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9983815

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9983815, Molecular and Genetic Characteristics of Progressive Rheumatoid Arthritis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease (5R03HL148484-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9983815. Licensed CC0.

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