Prediction of treatment response in inflammatory arthritis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Prediction of treatment response in inflammatory arthritis
IRAS ID
279714
Contact name
Adam Paul Croft
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
The underlying pathogenesis of treatment refractory arthritis is poorly understood, and therapeutic strategies to address this area are urgently needed. Factors contributing to refractory disease are varied and range from disease mechanisms to patient specific factors that impact on treatment response. Synovial fibroblasts are key effector cells in inflammation but are yet to be therapeutically targeted. Recently these have been shown to exist as specific subsets of cells, some of which are immunomodulatory, while others drive tissue damage. We hypothesise that the ‘fibroblast pathotype’ is a determinant of the persistence of joint inflammation, and thus response to treatment. This research study proposes to look at cellular and non-cellular drivers of persistent inflammation in arthritis and their impact on treatment response. As part of an observational study, we plan to recruit patients classified with arthritis across several sites in Birmingham. Patients will be recruited at various stages, throughout the natural history of their arthritis, including from treatment naïve disease onset to clinical remission.
We will collect patient data through questionnaires and clinical assessment, and acquire samples including urine, stool, joint fluid and blood. We will also obtain synovial tissue from the joint using our existing ultrasound guided synovial tissue biopsy pipeline and infrastructure at the University of Birmingham. Using these clinical samples, we will perform a series of experiments and analyse clinical data to determine the biological and patient specific factors that affect treatment response and progression of arthritis.
REC name
London - Dulwich Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/LO/0536
Date of REC Opinion
14 Sep 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion