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

Dr. Chandra Mohan, a biomedical engineering researcher at the University of Houston, has been awarded a $4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. The funding will support a longitudinal study aimed at identifying the earliest biological triggers of Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases.

The study will span 10 years, making it one of the longer-term investigations into the origins of these conditions. Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases include disorders such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, which occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues.

Mohan's research will focus on tracking biomarkers and other biological signals that precede the onset of clinical symptoms. The goal is to detect disease activity at its earliest stages, potentially enabling earlier intervention and better outcomes for patients.

The grant underscores continued federal investment in autoimmune disease research, which affects millions of people worldwide. Mohan's team at the University of Houston will collaborate with clinical partners to enroll and monitor participants over the course of the study.