Precision Medicine for Myasthenia Gravis: Unveiling Predictive and Subgroup Biomarkers for Targeted Treatments

Time period:

1 January 2026 – 31 December 2028

Project leader:

Anna Rostedt Punga

Project member:

Sarah Hoffmann, Miriam Fichtner, John Vissing, Niclas Eriksson

Funder:

Swedish Research Council

Type of award:

Project grant

Total funding:

3,000,000 SEK

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a rare heterogeneous autoimmune disorder affecting the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), leading to fatigable muscle weakness. Young women are more frequently affected and tend to experience more severe fatigue. The lack of reliable biomarkers limits precision in diagnosis, treatment, and disease monitoring. This project aims to establish disease-specific biomarkers and molecular signatures to advance precision medicine in MG.We will validate biomarker profiles by integrating serum miRNA and protein signatures based on published and preliminary data, investigating complement factors and immune cell mechanisms, and developing model-based personalized biomarkers. Our study involves longitudinal profiling of inflammatory proteins and miRNAs in 200 AChR+ MG patients over two years, with validation in at least 50 seronegative MG patients. We will further assess T-cell function, complement regulation, and neuromuscular transmission failure using an in vitro human MG model. We analyze molecular signatures across MG subgroups to classify patients based on immune mechanisms and identify therapeutic targets tailored to individual disease profiles.This project will refine MG classification, predict disease progression, and potentially uncover novel treatment pathways. By integrating molecular profiling with bioinformatics, we strive to enable targeted and cost-efficient MG treatments, improving patient outcomes and advancing precision medicine in MG.