Cellular and Molecular Profiling of PSC (V4.0)

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Cellular and Molecular Profiling of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

• IRAS ID

  334983

• Contact name

  Palak Trivedi

• Contact email

  palak.trivedi@uhb.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Birmingham

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 0 months, 18 days

• Research summary

  Background:
  Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a disease that causes inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts. At present there are no medicines that have been shown to slow down the rate of liver damage, and liver transplantation is the only life-saving treatment for people living with the disease.

  Proposal:
  The aim of this study is to further our understanding of PSC through coordinated tissue sampling (blood, stool, bile tissue/fluid, colonic tissue) from patients with PSC, other liver and digestive disorders, and healthy patients. This will enable us to:
  - Determine differences in immune cell populations in bile tissue, colonic tissue and peripheral blood in patients with PSC compared to controls, and the relationship of the observed changes across the different tissue types.
  - To identify genetic variants that are associated with PSC, its disease severity and high-risk disease phenotype.
  - Characterise the set of proteins within plasma associated with PSC and its disease severity compared to controls.
  - Characterise the microbiome of patients with PSC and compare this with other liver and digestive disorders as well as healthy individuals.

  Participants will be recruited from specialist liver and gastroenterology clinics as well as endoscopy lists. Those interested in participating will be provided with a patient information sheet and will subsequently be consented. Baseline data related to their health will be collected and samples will be taken (the participant can choose what samples to provide). No further follow-up is required following sample collection.

  The study will be conducted through the University Hospitals Birmingham Liver Department and University of Birmingham Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research.

• REC name

  West of Scotland REC 5

• REC reference

  24/WS/0134

• Date of REC Opinion

  16 Sep 2024

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion