{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"August 20, 2026 - Dr. Paramarajan Piranavan & Dr. Izabela Antic (CAR-T Lupus Clinical Trial)","description":" LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 20, 2026) \u2013 A UK HealthCare patient who has lived with severe lupus for more than 20 years recently became the second patient in the United States to receive an experimental CAR-T cell therapy through a Phase 2 clinical trial. On this episode of \u2018Behind the Blue,\u2019 Dr. Paramarajan Piranavan, chief of the Division of Rheumatology at UK HealthCare, and Dr. Izabela Antic, the patient\u2019s primary rheumatologist and a sub-investigator on the study, explain how the trial came to UK and why researchers are cautiously hopeful about what this approach could mean for patients with severe, treatment-resistant autoimmune disease. CAR-T cell therapy is most often associated with blood cancers. In this study, researchers are testing whether a similar approach can help patients with severe lupus by targeting the B cells that help drive the disease. Dr. Piranavan explains how lupus disrupts the immune system, why some patients become refractory to available treatments and how an \u201cimmune reset\u201d could allow the body to rebuild without the same harmful immune memory. The episode also explores what the treatment process requires, including screening, cell collection, genetic modification, chemotherapy, infusion and a 14-day hospital stay for close monitoring. Dr. Antic discusses the patient\u2019s decision to participate after years of aggressive disease and failed treatments, while both physicians emphasize that this remains an experimental therapy and that one patient\u2019s experience cannot determine whether the treatment will work for others. The trial reflects a broad collaboration across UK, including rheumatology, hematology and oncology, cellular therapy, inpatient care, clinical trial coordination and university leadership. UK plans to continue enrolling eligible patients with severe systemic lupus and certain forms of lupus nephritis as researchers work to understand whether this approach can safely produce lasting, drug-free remission. \u2018Behind the Blue\u2019 is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK\u2019s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. \u2018Behind the Blue\u2019 is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show\u2019s blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity. ","author_name":"Behind the Blue","author_url":"http:\/\/behindtheblue.libsyn.com\/podcast","html":"