Federal Grant Award Summary

Vanderbilt University Medical Center received a $3.21 million Project Grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) under the Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.846), awarded June 1, 2026, with a completion date of May 31, 2030. The award funds a comparative safety research project titled "Mapping Cardiovascular and Infectious Risk of JAK Inhibitors in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis." The project will investigate the cardiovascular and infectious disease safety profiles of Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors—including tofacitinib, baricitinib, and upadacitinib—which have emerged as promising oral treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis patients who fail conventional therapies but carry FDA black box warnings due to serious safety concerns.

The research will address critical knowledge gaps regarding whether elevated cardiovascular and thromboembolic risks are attributable to specific JAK inhibitor toxicity, protective effects of alternative treatments, or both. Given differences in selectivity profiles among approved JAK inhibitors and their shared reliance on cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) metabolism, the project will conduct comparative effectiveness and safety analyses across specific JAK inhibitor class members and alternative therapies such as interleukin-6 inhibitors. This comparative safety analysis will provide evidence to inform clinical decision-making and help clarify whether FDA safety warnings should be applied uniformly across the JAK inhibitor class or tailored by specific agent.