Investigation of novel immunomodulatory agents on immune cell function
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation into the effects of novel immunomodulatory agents on human immune cell function.
IRAS ID
213880
Contact name
Louise Brackenbury
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
KWS Biotest
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
We would like to source fresh blood and blood products from existing biobanks and the NHS Blood and Transplant Service (NHSBT), to isolate white blood cells and look at the effects of the new drugs on the function of these cells. The samples required include whole blood, and blood derived products such as buffy coat, leukocyte cones and leukopaks.
The program of work is designed to investigate the effects of a variety of new drug compounds on the human immune system. A functional immune system is critical to prevent infectious disease or cancers but has been shown to be a direct cause of disease in many autoimmune conditions, for example rheumatoid arthritis or juvenile diabetes. The new drug compounds are intended either to help treat disease directly, or indirectly by altering the immune response.
We will isolate white blood cells from buffy coats & whole blood; and look at the effects of the new drugs on the function of these cells. Where we see an effect, we then anticipate performing further experiments using different fractions of the white blood cells, which have specialised functions, in order to find out more about how the drug works and to specifically look at how it affects each individual type of cell. This work is important because in some cases it will be the first time human immune cells have been exposed to the novel compounds and it is crucial to determine whether they are likely to work in ‘real’ human cells rather than cell lines which have been grown in laboratories for many years.
This body of work will provide vital pre-clinical data to support entry into early phase clinical
trials for promising drug candidates.REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0221
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jan 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion