Our goal is to:

• identify the key predictors of clinical response and remission in RA patients, and
• identify those individuals at high risk of developing RA.

By understanding the human immune system in RA through the study of biological samples from RA patients we plan to develop an ‘immunological toolkit’ measuring the immune status of healthy individuals and patients.

Why is this important?

RA is one of the most common auto-immune diseases in the world characterized by pain and fatigue.

Typically these problems mean that daily life is more difficult for RA patients.

RA patients may experience difficulties with everyday tasks and restricted work options.
   
RA has massive health economic implications.
   
Early intervention gives immediate patient benefit and reduces healthcare costs.

   
What are the aims of this research?     
   
The goal is to identify predictors of remission in RA.
   
There is a major need to identify the characteristics of those individuals most likely to achieve clinical remission so that both new and existing therapies can be targeted to the right patient populations.

What does this research involve?

We have established a large cohort of RA patients to study the long term development of the disease.

We have established a large cohort of first degree relatives of RA patients to better understand the risk factors including lifestyle and  genetics underlying the disease.

We are studying the normal immune response of healthy volunteers to another simple immunological challenge - vaccination.

Six of our pharmaceutical partners have provided patient level data from the placebo arms of Randomized Clinical Trials of Rheumatoid Arthritis.