Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

For more information about our research projects, please head over to our Lupus Program website.

Systemic Lupus Associated T-cell Effects “SLATE”

We are conducting a longitudinal study (24 months) to understand the treatment of Lupus among those who have been newly diagnosed with the disease. Participants must meet American College of Rheumatology criteria for lupus and be diagnosed in the last 12 months without starting immunosuppressive treatment. Participants will be asked to complete survey questionnaires and provide blood samples over the course of 3-5 study visits. Parking or transportation vouchers may be provided. Study visits can occur at Orthopedic and Arthritis Center (BWH Main Campus,) Faulkner Hospital or at the Rheumatology clinic at 850 Boylston Street for convenience.

For more information about this study, please contact Gregory Keras gkeras@bwh.harvard.edu

Funded by: Lupus Research Alliance

Physical and Mental Health and Medication Use among Patients with Lupus

Principal Investigator: Candace Feldman, MD, MPH

Study Contact: Courtnie Phillip (617-732-6356; cphillip1@bwh.harvard.edu)

Funding Agency: Rheumatology Research Foundation

Study Summary: We are conducting a research study to understand changes in mental and physical health and medication use among patients with lupus over 6-8 months.

Patient Criteria: We are looking for participants who have been diagnosed with lupus and are currently taking a lupus medication.

Visit Summary: Participants will complete a total of 3 sets of surveys either online or at the time of your rheumatology appointment.

Patient Remuneration: Participants will receive either a parking or cafeteria voucher for each completed set of surveys.

ACE (Closed to Enrollment)

Principal Investigator: Elena M Massarotti, MD

Study Contact: Jung Lee (617-525-7654; jlee181@partners.org)

Funding Agency: Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation (DAIT) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Study Summary: We are doing this research study to find out if patients who have bene on Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) for 1 to 2 years and whose Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE, lupus) is quiet can safely stop their MMF medication. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups

1. MMF continuation group will continue MMF at a set dose.
2. MMF withdrawal group will be slowly tapered off their MMF over 3 months.

Patient Criteria: Adults who have been diagnosed with lupus but is not active. Participants must be taking MMF and have been taking MMF for 1-2 years.

Visit Summary: We will ask you to make 12 study visits over 60 weeks. The visits will consist of a physical exam, questionnaires, and blood and urine sample collection. The study drug (MMF) will be supplied to you during this study.

Patient Remuneration: Participants will receive payment in the form of a parking voucher to cover parking costs for each study visit.