GRASP
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Generating Research in Axial Spondyloarthritis Patients (GRASP): an observational study with biobanking
IRAS ID
294955
Contact name
Stefan Siebert
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Innovation; NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
Duration of Study in the UK
6 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) encompasses a group of chronic rheumatic conditions characterised by inflammation in the spine (and other joints). While there have been significant advances in the diagnosis and management of axSpA over the past decade, which have transformed outcomes for patients with this condition, there remains significant unmet clinical need. Patients are still diagnosed late and many do not respond or only partially respond to the best current therapies. Many patients have significant ongoing life-long symptoms and functional limitation. Most of the data in this field has been obtained from clinical trials, which does not represent the range of patients seen routinely in clinical practice.
Therefore, there is a requirement for real-world studies with robust clinical and biobanking data to address these needs and ultimately deliver on the benefits of the advances in this field. Identifying disease relevant pathways and biomarkers would help facilitate early diagnosis and inform treatment stratification and precision medicine strategies in axSpA, leading to improved outcomes for patients and the healthcare systems involved in their management.
To help address this, axSpA patients attending secondary care rheumatology NHS services across Scotland will be recruited to allow coverage of the full range of clinically relevant, real-world disease, with a broad age-range, comorbidities and socioeconomic status. GRASP is an observational study with low burden for participants who will be asked to attend for a single study visit at which they will complete questions about their disease and how it affects them and contribute blood and urine samples, for a linked biobank for use now and in future research. They will also be asked to complete brief questionnaires, via post or email, on 6 further occasions over the 5 year follow up period but not be required to attend for any further study visits.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/YH/0152
Date of REC Opinion
6 Jul 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion