UCI Health lupus clinical trial patient Kimberly Renihan offers hope to others with disease
Rheumatologist brought trial to UCI Health after promising results shown in Europe
IN THE NEWS: Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can cause widespread inflammation and potential damage to the joints, skin and major organs. While there is no cure, the disease can be managed with medication and other therapies. Flare-ups can often be painful and debilitating.
UCI Health patient Kimberly Renihan knows this all too well. Diagnosed with lupus more than 20 years ago, she battled severe flare-ups, including while pregnant with her son Owen who is now a high school senior.
Another flare-up in 2020 was especially difficult. She spoke with ABC 7 Los Angeles about her frustrating search for relief.
“My fatigue was so crushing that I slept up to 17, 18 hours a day. We had tried everything else and nothing worked.”
That’s when Dr. Sheetal Desai, a UCI Health rheumatologist, learned about a phase 1 clinical trial for an investigational stem cell therapy that had shown promising results in Europe. She brought it to UCI Health.
“I’m really excited that this could be something that could offer the potential for deeper levels of remission.”
Renihan received a one-time CAR T-cell infusion in August 2025. More than six months later, her kidney function has significantly improved and she has returned to playing piano, exercising and enjoying time with her family. She touched on how life-changing the clinical trial has been for her.
“The small blessings are what I am enjoying right now, like grocery shopping and spending time with my family.”
Desai sees patients at UCI Health Rheumatology Services where she specializes in lupus. She is also an associate professor and chief of the Division of Rheumatology at the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
She is actively recruiting patients to participate in the lupus CAR T phase 1 clinical trial. For additional information, visit https://www.ucihealth.org/clinical-trials/CCR-22-72.
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About UCI Health
UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,461-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Health — Orange, its flagship hospital, the UCI Health — Irvine acute care hospital and medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Health — Orange provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).