Sample collections
We maintain extensive patient sample collections for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
These are collected to address questions around susceptibility, prognosis, outcome and treatment response.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Susceptibility
The National Repository is a multi-centre, national study that collects blood for DNA, RNA and serum from patients with RA.
Within the Repository are samples from twins, families with more than one affected sibling, unaffected parents of patients with RA and large numbers of patients with sporadic RA.
Portfolio ID: 7881
Prognosis
The Norfolk Arthritis Register (NOAR) is an inception cohort of patients with early inflammatory arthritis (two or more swollen joints for four or more weeks).
DNA and serum have been collected at several time points as well as a wide variety of clinical measures including XRays, HAQ scores and information on the cause of death.
Portfolio ID: 2870
Treatment response to Methotrexate
The RA Medication Study (RAMS) collects clinical data and blood samples from patients who are about to start therapy with methotrexate and then follows them prospectively to assess response to therapy over the first year of treatment.
Data on >2350 patients has been collected so far. Clinical information and biological samples (DNA, RNA, serum) are collected pre-treatment and at 4 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months post-treatment initiation.
Portfolio ID: 5118
Treatment response to biologic drugs
The Biologics in RA Genetics and Genomics Study Syndicate (BRAGGSS) collects clinical data and blood samples from patients who are about to start therapy with a biologic drug and then follows them prospectively to assess response to therapy over the first year of treatment. Data on >1,500 patients has been collected so far. Clinical information and biological samples (DNA, RNA, serum) are collected pre-treatment and at 3, 6 and 12 months post-treatment initiation.
Portfolio ID: 5114
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)
Susceptibility
Patients with PsA who were under active follow-up by hospital rheumatologists were recruited from throughout the UK. So far, DNA samples from 2,000 PsA subjects have been collected but the collection is on-going.
Portfolio ID: 7881
Outcome
TheOutcome of Treatment in Psoriatic Arthritis Study Syndicate (OUTPASS) collects blood for DNA, serum and RNA from patients about to start an anti-TNF therapy for PsA.
Patients are followed prospectively for 12 months, with further collection of blood at three, six and 12 months, as well as clinical data collection at all time points.
Response to the anti-TNF drug is assessed using standard criteria. This study has only begun recently and collection needs to continue before enough samples are available for analysis.
Portfolio ID: 13910
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Our JIA susceptibility studies are facilitated by two cross sectional cohort studies.
Susceptibility
The British Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology (BSPAR) National Repository
The repository is a cross-sectional cohort of JIA cases collected from across the UK via members of BSPAR.
It contains DNA, serum and cross-sectional clinical data on over 1,000 children (and in some cases their parents). The initial collection is closed but has recently been reopened as the UKJIAGC.
Portfolio ID: 7881
UK JIA Genetics consortium (UKJIAGC)
UKJIAGC is a new collection of a cross-sectional cohort of JIA cases from the UK. Clinical data as well as DNA and serum are collected.
JIA GCUK recruiting centres include:
- Aberdeen Royal Infirmary;
- Freeman Hospital;
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children;
- London Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre Royal Hospital for Sick Children;
- Edinburgh Royal;
- Liverpool Children's Hospital;
- Alder Hey;
- Royal Victoria Infirmary Newcastle;
- University College London Hospital.
Portfolio ID: 7881
Outcome
Our outcome studies are facilitated by the Childhood Arthritis Prospective Study (CAPS), a long-term outcome inception cohort study of children with childhood-onset inflammatory arthritis.
Portfolio ID: 2635
Treatment response
Our treatment response studies are facilitated via three studies.
Childhood response to medication study (CHARMS)
In collaboration with Professor Lucy Wedderburn at UCL, CHARMS was set up to identify the clinical, psychological and genetic factors that predict how a child will respond to methotrexate (MTX).
Portfolio ID: 3227
Biologics for Children with Rheumatic Diseases (BCRD)
The BCRD prospective observational cohort study aims to recruit all children with JIA who are starting therapy with a biologic drug.
A parallel cohort of children starting Methotrexate will also be collected. All children will be followed for a minimum of five years.
The response to treatment will be assessed at regular intervals using the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) JIA core outcome variables, including active and joint counts, inflammatory markers, pain and disability levels.
Portfolio ID: 7725
BSPAR Etanercept cohort study (BECS)
BECS collects detailed information on the effectiveness and safety of Etanercept in children with JIA. A parallel group of children with JIA treated with Methotrexate is also being recruited in order to compare side effects and long term outcomes between the two treatment groups.
Portfolio ID: 13553