Indian American Scientist Wins $4M NIH Grant to Study Autoimmune Diseases

Dr. Chandra Mohan, a biomedical engineering professor at the University of Houston, will use the $4 million NIH grant to track patients over a decade, aiming to spot the earliest biological changes that precede Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases (SARDs). These conditions, which include lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue.

The study will follow individuals who show early signs of autoimmunity, such as specific antibodies in the blood, but do not yet have a full-blown disease. By analyzing blood samples and clinical data over time, Mohan's team hopes to identify the molecular events that trigger the transition from benign autoimmunity to active illness.

Mohan, who holds the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Endowed Professorship in biomedical engineering, said the project could lead to earlier diagnosis and preventive treatments. "We want to catch the disease before it causes irreversible damage," he said in a university statement.

The grant, awarded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, a branch of the NIH, will support a multi-institutional team. The research will also involve patient recruitment from clinics in Texas and neighboring states, with data shared across collaborating labs.

Mohan has spent over two decades studying the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to autoimmune diseases. His previous work has identified several biomarkers that predict disease severity in lupus, a key step toward personalized medicine for these chronic conditions.