Autoimmune Inflammatory Mechanisms (AIM) - AIM Study v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Autoimmune Inflammatory Mechanisms (AIM)
IRAS ID
150076
Contact name
Sandra Sacre
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sussex
Research summary
This study plans to investigate the rheumatic autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Advancing our understanding of how these diseases progress aid with the development of better treatments for patients in the future.
Cells in the blood help to control the body’s response to infection and injury. They generate inflammation which causes pain, swelling and redness. This is a form of protection against infection and at sites of injury aids the healing process. In most people, inflammation will stop after the infection or injury is no longer present. However, in patients with autoimmune diseases, inflammation occurs in the absence of infection or injury. This causes pain, tissue damage and a reduced quality of life.
Rheumatic diseases often affect the joints in addition to many other tissues of the body. Cells from the blood move into the joints where they produce inflammation causing pain and damage that may eventually lead to disability. Current therapies have shown great benefit but do not work for all patients and are not a cure. They are also very expensive meaning their use is limited within the NHS. Understanding how inflammation is controlled will be important for the development of new more effective therapies.
To perform this study, patients will be asked to donate a blood sample. Some patients undergoing a procedure to their joints (e.g. joint replacement surgery or joint aspiration) will be asked to donate tissue being removed as part of their clinical procedure. Blood samples from healthy participants and joint tissue collected from osteoarthritis patients will be used for comparison.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NW/1114
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion