AuToDeCRA-2
Study code
NBR217
Lead researcher
Professor John Isaacs
Study type
Participant re-contact
Institution or company
Newcastle University
Researcher type
Academic
Speciality area
Cross-cutting
Summary
The immune system is like an army of different cells (regiments) co-ordinated by generals (cells called dendritic cells [DCs]). When there is danger around, as in an infection, the generals instruct the regiments to attack. The rest of the time they instruct the regiments to ‘stand down’, to avoid damaging normal tissues. In Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), the immune army has become confused and attacks normal joint tissues, causing inflammation and damage.
We have developed a new treatment that we believe can ‘stand down’ the confused immune army in RA. Blood from a patient with RA is used to generate DCs that instruct regiments to stand down and these are then given back to the patient.
We demonstrated in a previous study that we can make the treatment and it is safe to give. This study will compare different routes and doses to see if how we give it impacts on how well it works.
20 patients with RA will be recruited at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and allocated to one of five study groups (4 treatment groups and 1 comparison group). The effects on the immune system and arthritis symptoms will be closely monitored and anonymised results will be published at the end of the study.