Award
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 5R01AR063709-10
Expanded fibroblast subset drives pathology in rheumatoid arthritis
Recipient
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
Award Amount
$261,776.00
Ceiling
$261,776.00
Awarded
August 28, 2025
Identifier
5R01AR063709-10
This award funds research on the role of fibroblasts in rheumatoid arthritis, focusing on a specific inflammatory fibroblast subset and the Notch 3 signaling pathway as a potential therapeutic target.
Description
The study investigates the role of fibroblasts in end organ fibrosis and their roles in chronic inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It identifies a highly expanded inflammatory fibroblast subpopulation in RA synovial tissue, distinguished by high expression of CD90 and HLA-DR, and production of IL-6 and chemokines. The research aims to determine if Notch 3 signaling on fibroblasts drives spatial patterning and differentiation, using organoids and mouse models to explore targeted disruption of Notch signaling as a therapeutic approach.