Pathophysiological mechanisms of Fibrosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Molecular and cellular mechanisms driving the pathogenesis of Fibrosis.
IRAS ID
260760
Contact name
Paul Kirkham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Wolverhampton
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Fibrosis is an important process for tissue repair following injury. It involves a highly complex coordinated sequence of events, that eventually leads to full restoration and regeneration of tissue function, depending on the severity of the initial injury. However, should this process become uncoordinated and overactive it can lead to damaging tissue remodelling due to destruction of normal tissue and the uncontrolled deposition of excess extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagen. This is a serious medical problem and is associated with several chronic diseases linked to specific organs, such as the kidney, lung, heart, liver, and skin, as well as systemic scleroderma which affects multiple organs. Many of these conditions have a poor prognosis and eventually result in death, and treatment options are currently limited with a high unmet medical need for new therapeutic intervention strategies. In order to meet this challenge, key to achieving this goal is to gain a greater understanding of, and validate, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive fibrosis.
To study this condition, following informed consent, we will collect tissue biopsy and blood from healthy subjects and patients with fibrosis. Using specialist laboratory techniques, such as micro-dissection of biopsy tissue, immunohistochemistry (IHC),ELISA, PCR, western blotting, FACS and video capillaroscopy, we will evaluate the clinical endpoints, molecular pathways and cells involved in promoting fibrosis and the changes that occur between healthy and disease tissue. This study will be undertaken by postdoctoral scientists and clinicians based at the University of Wolverhamtpon and New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton using funding provided by a UK based biotechnology company interested in identifying potential new therapeutic targets to treat this disease.REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/WM/0334
Date of REC Opinion
5 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion