The Rheumatology department is active in different kinds of research, trying to answer questions that are important to our patients. Clinical research is how we discover new treatments and prove that they are safe and effective, how we find out new information about the conditions that we deal with, and helps us to understand the journeys and complications that our children and families face.
Though much of the research is based in Glasgow, it is often possible to offer participation to children from all over Scotland using the connections made with the Scottish Paediatric & Adolescent Rheumatology Network.
Current research studies and projects that the Rheumatology department are involved with include:
- UK JSLE cohort study.
Lead researcher in RHC Glasgow: Dr Janet Gardner-Medwin
The UK JSLE Cohort Study and Repository was set up in 2006.The study regularly collects anonymised clinical data from patients with Juvenile Sysystemic Lupus Erythematosis (JSLE), as well as biological specimens such as blood and urine. The data and specimens facilitate lots of research into JSLE. - Juvenile Dermatomyositis Cohort, Biomarker Study & Repository.
Lead researcher in RHC Glasgow: Dr Neil Martin
Link: Homepage - JDCBS - Juvenile Dermatomyositis Cohort Biomarker Study & Repository
This study has been running since 2000. It is open to all patients with Juvenile Dermatomyositis, (JDM). Because myositis in children is so rare there is a lack of evidence for the best ways to treat it. To overcome this in the UK, a network of researchers, scientists, nurses, physiotherapists, and doctors who work with children with myositis agreed to work together, and this has led to a large, powerful collection of cases of childhood myositis each with data and samples stored. This study is called the Juvenile Dermatomyositis Cohort Biomarker Study and Repository (UK and Ireland) or JDCBS. The JDCBS is led by Professor Lucy Wedderburn, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London. The group of researchers, doctors, physiotherapists, nurses, scientists is called the Juvenile Dermatomyositis Research Group (JDRG). Recent studies have included those on clinical treatments, new drugs for JDM, antibodies in JDM that help define the type of myositis a child has, how careful analysis of muscle biopsy tissue can help predict the severity of disease, how immune system (HLA) genes affect the subtype of myositis, as well as other genes that play a role in JDM, how blood vessels may be altered in JDM and many others. - UK Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis(JIA) biologics registry
Lead researcher in RHC Glasgow: Dr Jo Walsh
Link: JIA Register | British Society for Rheumatology - 2 previous studies which many patients from RHC Glasgow with JIA took part in were called:
- The BSR Etanercept registry
- Versus Arthritis Biologics for Children with Rheumatic Diseases (BCRD) study
These 2 studies were designed to look at the long term safety of biologic drugs being used in JIA. The studies have been merged together to form the JIA biologics registry. This is not currently recruiting new patients but continue to collect information about the long term safety of biologic drugs in the patients who have already taken part in the study.
- PedVas
Lead researcher in RHC Glasgow: Dr Neil Martin
Childhood chronic vasculitis is a group of rare diseases that affect less than 1% of children under 17 years old annually. The following conditions are names of different types of vasculitis included in this study:- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) also called Wegener’s Granulomatosis,
- Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA),
- Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System (PACNS) or Central Nervous System (CNS) vasculitis,
- Unclassified vasculitis
- Takayasu’s Arteritis (TA)
- Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN)
More than 30 hospitals/research centres in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia are participating in the study.
This study collects anonymised data, blood, urine and saliva symptoms to help us learn more about these rare conditions and improve the care and treatment options for young people with chronic childhood vasculitis.
- KDCAAP
Lead researcher in RHC Glasgow: Dr Neil Martin
This study is recruiting patients with Kawasaki Disease. The aim of the study is to find out if adding steroids to the standard treatment using intravenous immunoglobulins and aspirin improves outcomes for patients with Kawasaki Disease. - Secukinumab in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)
Lead researcher in RHC Glasgow: Dr Neil Martin
This study is now closed to recruitment and the main results are due to be published soon in a peer reviewed journal. An extension of this study to evaluate the long-term efficacy, safety and tolerability up to four years is ongoing. Preliminary results were presented at an International conference in 2021 and were positive showing that Secukinumab was well tolerated and effective at reducing flares of skin disease and arthritis in young people with Psoriatic JIA & Enthesitis Related Arthritis (ERA). - Tofacitinib in JIA
Lead researcher in RHC Glasgow: Dr Neil Martin
This study is due to start recruitment in RHC Glasgow soon. It will be open to patients with Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA). The study will look at whether an oral medicine called Tofacitinib is effective in treating patients with SJIA. - YourRHEUM: Involving young people in Paed Rheum trial design
Yourrheum is a group for 11 to 24 year olds across the UK with diagnosed Rheumatic conditions to advise, input and shape current adolescent and young adult Rheumatology research.
Link: YOUR RHEUM | Welcome to YOUR RHEUM!