ICMR funds study to identify genetic links, potential therapies for autoimmune diseases

New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research has funded a four-year study to investigate the genetic and immunological mechanisms underlying autoimmune diseases by studying families with multiple affected members, AIIMS doctors said on Thursday, appealing to SLE patients to get enrolled in the study.

The project titled 'Genomic Profiling and Identification of Targetable Shared Immunopathogenic Events in Multiplex Families with Autoimmune Diseases' has been awarded to Dr Dipyaman Ganguly of Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, and Dr Ranjan Gupta, Additional Professor in the Department of Rheumatology, AIIMS, Delhi.

The study aims to build a nationwide cohort of 200 families in which multiple members are affected by autoimmune diseases.

Each participating family must have at least one member diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly known as lupus, Gupta said.

The researchers will conduct genetic and immunological assessments of the enrolled patients and their family members to identify shared biological mechanisms that contribute to the development of these conditions.

The findings could help scientists better understand the disease processes involved and identify potential targets for developing new therapies, he said.

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues.

A family history of such conditions is associated with an increased risk of developing them, highlighting the importance of investigating genetic and shared immunological factors, Gupta said.

The four-year project will involve clinical centres at AIIMS Delhi; AIIMS Bibinagar, Telangana; Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow; St John's Hospital, Bengaluru; Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad; and the Kolkata Medical College.

These centres will contribute clinical data and biological samples for the study.

Patients diagnosed with lupus and residing in Delhi-NCR can contact the centre at AIIMS Delhi to check their eligibility for participation, Gupta said.

Participation will be subject to eligibility assessment and the study's enrolment requirements.