Microneedle based therapy

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Minimally invasive transfer of healthy cells for the treatment of vitiligo

• IRAS ID

  186661

• Contact name

  James C Birchall

• Contact email

  birchalljc@cardiff.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Cardiff University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 2 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  The pigment in our skin is created by specialised pigment producing cells. Sometimes these cells do not work properly, causing loss of pigment in the skin. White patches appear in the affected areas. This condition is called vitiligo. Vitiligo affects approximately 1% of the population worldwide. A cure for vitiligo is not available to date, therefore the treatment options offered to patients are not always successful.

  Some vitiligo patients are eligible for a treatment called cellular grafting. This involves taking healthy pigment producing cells from an unaffected area of the patient’s skin that is not affected by vitiligo and transferring these cells to a white patch of skin. The aim is to replace the pigment producing cells.
  This technique is quite successful (pigmentation reappears in approximately 70% of patients). However, during this treatment the surface of the white skin must be removed in order to transplant the healthy cells. The process of removing the skin surface is called dermabrasion. Dermabrasion can be painful, can lead to scarring and area must be immobilised for up to 30 days after treatment.

  In this study we are testing a new method to transfer the healthy cells to the white skin. This will involve placing the healthy cells in the skin using tiny needles that are thinner than a human hair. These are called microneedles. Microneedles should cause minimal pain, no scarring and should reduce the risk of infection. We also hope there would be no need for immobilization after treatment.

  The purpose of this study is therefore to test if microneedles provide a patient-friendly and effective improvement for cellular grafting.

• REC name

  Wales REC 2

• REC reference

  16/WA/0086

• Date of REC Opinion

  24 Mar 2016

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion