Current Projects
Towards Personalized Use of Methotrexate for the Treatment of JIA-associated Uveitis
As part of the Accelerating Medicines Partnership/Autoimmune and Immune-Mediated Diseases (AMP AIM), this study aims to identify and validate genetic predictors of response to methotrexate in children with JIA and JIA-associated uveitis. It will also validate genes associated with intolerance to methotrexate. This project is funded through the NIH (NIAMS, ORWH and ODSS) and OMRF.
Predicting Eye Disease In children with juvenile idiopathic Arthritis (PEDIA-U)
Children with JIA are at high risk for uveitis. Currently known risk factors for uveitis development are not completely accurate. PEDIA-U is a multicenter prospective study to identify biologic and genetic factors associated with uveitis development in children with JIA. Tear fluid and DNA are collected in children with JIA and with JIA-associated uveitis. This project is funded by the NIH NEI R01EY030521-01.
OPTImizing Methotrexate Treatment in pediatric uveitis (OptiMTx)
This multicenter prospective study aims to identify demographics, clinical factors, imaging findings, and gene expression signatures that predict which children with uveitis will respond to first line methotrexate treatment. Results will optimize early treatment and improve vision outcomes. This project is funded by the NIH NEI R01EY034565.
Developing and validating comprehensive uveitis outcomes assessments
Valid outcome measures of uveitis for use in clinical studies, or to inform therapeutic decision-making in clinical practice are needed. Dr. Angeles-Han has led the development of international guidelines on screening, evaluation and treatment of pediatric uveitis and is a member of international consortiums such as the Multinational Interdisciplinary Working Group for Uveitis in Childhood to validate uveitis outcome measures.
The lack of patient-reported outcome measures for pediatric uveitis inspired us to develop the “Effects of Youngsters’ Eyesight on Quality of Life (EYE-Q)”, a uveitis-specific questionnaire that measures vision-related function and quality of life in 5–18 year-old children. The EYE-Q is being translated for use in international studies as a secondary outcome measure.
Longitudinal Outcomes of Childhood Uveitis Study (LOCUS) and BioRepository of Eye Disease (RED)
These registries focus on understanding the long-term outcome of children with all forms of uveitis. Our lab also studies various ocular fluid (tear fluid, aqueous humor) to identify inflammatory markers that are associated with eye inflammation. Projects from this registry have been funded by several internal and foundation grants.
Cincinnati Myositis Registry
This registry enrolls patients with various forms of myositis and enables the collection of samples such as blood and urine to learn about myositis outcomes over time, biomarkers for use in clinical care and research, and treatment response. Dr. Angeles-Han is the Director of the Myositis Center at CCHMC. We also collaborate with Cure JM and the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA).
