Severe Atopic Disease in the Bangladeshi Population, Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Severe Atopic Disease in the Bangladeshi Population: Unravelling Novel Molecular Mechanisms and the role of Environmental Stress
IRAS ID
227153
Contact name
Edel O'Toole
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Mary University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Atopic eczema is a common disorder affecting both children and adults. In this study, we would like to characterise the changes in DNA in 15 different genes in Bangladeshi children and young adults in East London and correlate the genetic changes with clinical and environmental findings, such as hard water and air pollution. We believe that this is an important question as our local Bangladeshi population have very severe eczema with frequent admissions to hospital with bacterial and viral infections. In order to do this, we have calculated that we will need to recruit 1500 individuals. Our genetic control group will be 15,000 controls of Bangladeshi origin from the East London Genes and Health study. The study will be conducted in Paediatric Outpatients and Dermatology outpatients at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel. With a clinical fellow and two research nurses/assistants (at least one/ideally both Sylheti/Bengali speaking), we hope to recruit these patients over a 2 year period. Participants and/or their parents will be examined carefully to look at where their eczema is, simple non-invasive tests will be performed to examine skin dryness and water loss through the skin and lung inflammation, a questionaire will be administered and children and young adults will be invited to give a sample of saliva, have a skin swab to look at bacteria, painless skin tape stripping and children/young adults over the age of 12 will be asked to have a very small skin biopsy (optional). \n
REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0018
Date of REC Opinion
12 Feb 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion