Effects of BAFF and APRIL Blockade on B cells in Murine Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Dr. Ramanujam plans to study the mechanism of blocking a molecule termed BAFF thought to be overexpressed in lupus patients. Her preliminary experiments have shown that blocking BAFF prevents blood clots in mice that spontaneously develop lupus. Her ANRF project will focus on determining whether these soluable BAFF blockers can be used as a therapy for antiphospholipid syndrome. (Blockade of BAFF is a strategy that is already being used to treat patients in clinical trials of SLE.)