Eosinophilic and Immune Mechanistic Study (BREAD)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Eosinophilic and Immune Mechanistic Study Advanced clinical blood analysis: imaging flow cytometry for detection and differentiation of eosinophilia in multiple diseases of childhood
IRAS ID
202975
Contact name
Louise Michaelis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle upon Tyne nhs foundation trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Over the last few decades there has been an increase in the number of children with eosinophilic diseases. such as IgE and Non IgE mediated food allergy, Eosinophilic Oesophagitis, Hyper IgE Syndrome, Allergic BronchoPulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) in children with cystic Fibrosis, and Multi-system Allergic Inflammation in Childhood (MoSAIC). Many of these children go on to develop atopic diseases such as asthma, eczema, hay fever and food allergy. We still do not know why more individuals are developing these diseases. We know that children born in families with some of the disorders are genetically inherited whilst others are due to factors in the environment. Some children with eosinophilic disease may beat a higher risk of developing food allergies, rhinitis and asthma later in life.
A number of inflammatory disorders that particularly afflict children (above) are characterised by increased numbers of circulating and tissue eosinophils. Eosinophils contribute to disease symptoms so better tests for looking at these cells are critical to disease diagnosis and monitoring. Our aim is to develop a simple blood test to improve existing hospital-based blood tests and replace difficult tests such as endoscopic biopsies from the gastrointestinal tract and the lungs. A technique called imaging flow cytometry enables fast capture of images of thousands of blood eosinophils; these images then allow us to better understand the way the cells work. To progress this to clinical utility we propose to use imaging flow cytometry to analyse blood and saliva samples from children. This project offers a unique opportunity to develop a new test for diagnosis and monitoring of eosinophilic disorders among children.
. The study will collect, by means of a questionnaire information about your and your child’s environment. It is hoped that this study will provide the foundation for a later study that will look at how we can diagnose and prevent eosinophilic diseases developing in infancy and childhood. Your child will have an opportunity to join this further study in the next 12 months once the pilot study is completed..REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/YH/0045
Date of REC Opinion
20 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion