Lupus Steroid Tapering Study (from home)
Have Lupus? Are you tapering or planning to taper from steroids?
ImYoo is studying the molecular changes that occur during steroid tapering to better understand why some patients flare and others don't - and to help develop an at-home immune monitor that could support future treatment decisions.
Note: All of our studies are done under and reviewed by an ethics review board
WHAT IS THIS STUDY ABOUT?
Tapering steroids is tough - there's no way to know who will succeed or when a flare might come.
We're looking for blood markers that predict these things, helping you and your doctor make safer tapering decisions.
HOW WILL MY DATA SAMPLES BE USED?
The blood samples and health information you share will help us in two important ways:
FIRST,
We'll use them to develop an at-home monitoring test that can help lupus patients and their doctors make safer decisions about steroid tapering by predicting who's ready to reduce their dose and catching early warning signs of a flare before it becomes serious.
SECOND,
Your samples will become part of a research dataset that scientists can use to understand why lupus treatments work for some patients but not others, helping them develop more effective therapies. By contributing your samples during these critical moments when you're tapering steroids or experiencing breakthrough symptoms, you're helping create the personalized medicine tools that don't exist today, while also advancing lupus research for everyone living with this condition.
What will I need to do for the study?
You'll collect up to 9 blood samples over 6 months.
Monthly samples (6 months): Once you begin tapering, collect a small blood sample at home each month using a capillary blood self-collection device paired with a quick survey about symptoms and steroid dose.
Event samples: If you're planning to lower your steroid dose as you taper or if your lupus symptoms are getting worse while tapering (like more joint pain, a new rash, extreme fatigue, or a fever lasting 3+ days), collect a sample! These aren't scheduled -you collect them whenever these events happen.
Time: 15-20 minutes per sample
Ship it: We will provide you with a kit that includes a guided self-collection video and instruction. The kit will have a return label for you to ship it back to us (leave it outside the door or drop off at your nearest FedEx).
WHAT DO I GET FOR BEING PART OF THE STUDY?
$25 per sample (up to $225) as Amazon gift card or charity donation.
Your immune data in a personalized report (research only, not medical advice). Example can be seen here: ImYoo Participant Report– v1.08b. Help future patients through groundbreaking research. Become part of ImYoo’s Patient Scientist Network where you will hear about new studies and receive revenue share if your data gets used in research.
Important: We are not asking you to change your course of treatment for this study. Please only consider joining if you will be naturally tapering your steroid usage with your clinician.
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