GB122 Project
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Stratification of gallstone disease using circulating liver microRNA and markers of cell necrosis
IRAS ID
154614
Contact name
James W Dear
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Edinburgh
Research summary
We have identified a panel of highly sensitive circulating biomarkers for acute liver injury and unequivocally demonstrated that they identify patients with liver injury at first presentation to hospital before standard tests are elevated. We wish to test these markers in a common clinical scenario where early patient stratification would directly impact on care: abdominal pain that is suspected to be due to complications of gallstones. This surgical emergency has been chosen because: A) it is a very common reason for hospital admission (182,000/year in England); B) if significant pathology could be excluded early then hospital admission might be avoided; C) the biomarkers in question are substantially elevated at early clinical timepoints in experimental mouse models and in humans with gallstone pathology; D) we already have a point-of-care assay in development, therefore, we are well placed to translate our technology rapidly to benefit patients.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EM/0211
Date of REC Opinion
14 May 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion