Project Grant R01AR085636

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) awarded Johns Hopkins University a $569,402 Project Grant on July 2, 2026, under the Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.846) to investigate clinical heterogeneity in immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced inflammatory arthritis (ICI-IA). The research addresses significant knowledge gaps regarding variable disease trajectories, treatment response patterns, tissue involvement, and immune mechanisms in ICI-IA—a serious adverse event affecting cancer immunotherapy patients that can cause permanent joint damage persisting months to years after treatment cessation.

The award funds two primary research initiatives utilizing the Rheumatology Adverse Events Due to Immunotherapy Observational Study (RADIOS) cohort, a prospective multicenter study across 12 academic sites. The first component examines how baseline clinical features, disease activity, and steroid dosing in the initial six months influence allocation of steroid-sparing immunosuppression therapy, while simultaneously evaluating the efficacy of immunosuppressive agents on disease activity and disease persistence. The second component consists of a prospective musculoskeletal ultrasound study investigating patterns of tissue involvement—encompassing joint, muscle, and fascial structures—to establish prevalence rates and characterize the distinctive pathological features of ICI-IA that differentiate it from traditional inflammatory arthritides such as rheumatoid arthritis. The project extends through May 31, 2031, and will be conducted at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.