MMC Blood Cohort
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Molecular Mechanisms Cluster Blood cohort
IRAS ID
344142
Contact name
J Kenneth Baillie
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NA, NA
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Cells, such as immune cells, respond to cues within the body or from the environment. Immune cells in blood for example respond to the presence of pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, to counter these agents and respond to overcome infection. There is however differences between hoe people respond to infection and inflammation, where some people can develop very little symptoms, and some develop very severe symptoms. Some of this variation can be due to genetics. Understanding how differences in peoples genetics alter responses of immune cells to inflammation can help identify targets that can be developed into drugs to treat people with severe disease.
This study will use blood from volunteers.
Volunteers will be identified from within the University of Edinburgh, through promotional materials using email and posters. Initially, 150 participants will be part of the study over 3 years. After 150 participants, we will continue recruiting volunteers to be able to include people with more rare differences in their DNA. Volunteers will attend the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh to donate 250 mls. of blood, approximately 17 tablespoons, about half of what would be donated with NHS blood donations. The blood will then be processed at a laboratory in the University of Edinburgh.
The constituents of blood will be analysed for genes and genetic changes using DNA and RNA, the signals that encode how the body responds to the environment. Immune cells from blood will be treated with a variety of stimulations including inflammatory molecules in the lab to see how responses vary in a population of people. This will help understand how differences in DNA can alter cells responses and to develop new therapies.REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
25/SS/0011
Date of REC Opinion
16 Apr 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion