Overview
Staff Clinician
The Lupus Clinical Trials Unit (LCTU) is a part of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease (NIAMS). NIAMS is an institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that is dedicated to clinical and translational research related to arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin disease.
The LCTU conducts innovative translational and clinical research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We maintain a comprehensive clinical database of SLE patients that includes patient demographics, SLE disease activity and damage indices, patient-reported outcome tools, and other data for phenotyping our cohort. The SLE Natural History and Pathogenesis protocol serves as a pivotal resource for understanding and characterizing the heterogeneity of this disease, providing biological specimens and outstanding clinical phenotyping to various labs involved in lupus research. This collaborative research model has led to several biomarker discoveries and scientific hypotheses. These discoveries have been translated into clinical trials.
We develop and implement clinical research protocols and conduct high impact, innovative clinical research based largely on the discoveries resulting from NIAMS translational research.
Current Projects
- Safety of Tofacitinib, an Oral Janus Kinase Inhibitor, in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; a Phase Ib Clinical Trial and Associated Mechanistic Studies.
- The Role of PPAR-gamma Agonists in immunomodulation and Vascular Prevention in SLE (PPAR-SLE).
- Natural history of vascular damage and atherosclerosis development in SLE.
- Deep immuno-phenotyping and systematic study of serum proteins and gene expression in SLE.
- Aerobic Exercise in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Exercise SLE).
- Genomic Effects of Glucocorticoids in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Quality Improvement
Quality improvement (QI) is a framework used in health care to improve patient care, outcomes, and the development of health care professionals. It has been shown to improve morbidity and mortality. The LCTU has implemented several QI projects for our patient cohort.
- A health maintenance section has been incorporated into all progress notes to address areas affected by SLE and the drugs that treat this disease.
- Patients with lupus are at a higher risk of osteoporosis because of chronic inflammation and the adverse effects of therapeutic medications, including glucocorticoids. We are working with an interdisciplinary team to implement a standardized template for outpatient visits incorporating osteoporosis assessment and management guidelines.
- A specific sun protection brochure to educate patients regarding SLE and photosensitivity.
- Reproductive health is an important topic and should be a shared decision-making process between SLE patients and providers. We are currently working on implementing reproductive health counseling during patient visits.
- Patient-reported outcome surveys are completed at every visit to help clinicians better understand the patient's perceived health status and empower them in their healthcare process.
- A disease indices tool monitors disease activity and damage accrual for every patient visit.
For more information, please contact Jun Chu (Jun.Chu2@nih.gov).
DC Lupus Consortium
In 2016, The Lupus Clinical Research Program established The DC Lupus Consortium (DCLC), a collaborative network of rheumatologists, nephrologists, physiatrists, and other health care providers interested in lupus clinical research in the Metropolitan DC area. The purpose of the DCLC is to promote partnerships and referrals to the NIAMS Lupus Clinical Research Program and collaborations with local and regional clinicians caring for patients with lupus.
NIH scientists, researchers, patient advocacy groups, and physicians both within and outside of NIH are welcome to join. To learn more about upcoming DCLC events, please contact Elaine Poncio (elaine.poncio@nih.gov) or Isabel Ochoa (ochoai@mail.nih.gov) to be added to the mailing list.
Join Us for the Next DCLC
NIH scientists, researchers, patient advocacy groups, and physicians both within and outside of NIH are welcome to join this consortium. If you would like to learn more about upcoming DCLC events, please contact Elaine Poncio (elaine.poncio@nih.gov) or Isabel Ochoa (ochoai@mail.nih.gov) to be added to the mailing list.
Core Research Facilities
Labs at the NIAMS are supported by the following state-of-the-art facilities and services:
Staff
Clinical Trials
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disease that affects females nine times more often than males. People with SLE are often treated with cyclophosphamide (CYC). But CYC can damage a woman s ovaries; it may cause infertility. A drug called GnRHa is sometimes given to protect the ovaries during CYC therapy. But no one really knows how effective GnRHa treatment is. This natural history survey will compare women who received GnRHa during CYC therapy with those who did not.
This study will explore the causes of rheumatic diseases and why many of them affect certain minority communities more severely.
This protocol will evaluate patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their relatives to learn more about how the disease develops and changes over time. It will also study genetic factors that make a person susceptible to SLE