UK VOLUNTEERS DIAGNOSED WITH AS NEEDED FOR RESEARCH

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You may by now be aware of the exciting results emerging from genetic studies of ankylosing spondylitis (AS).The team at Oxford University led by Professors Paul Wordsworth and Matthew Brown (funded by The Wellcome Trust, Arthritis Research Campaign and the National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society), have been exploring why AS only affects some individuals and why some are more severely affected than others. They reckon that 5 or 6 genes (including HLA-B27) are involved in AS and a better understanding of them should help us to diagnose and treat the condition more effectively.

This work has now reached a most exciting phase with a truly international effort (including UK, USA and Australia) to identify all the genetic factors involved. There is a realistic possibility that these discoveries will eventually be developed into diagnostic aids and novel treatments. Last year interleukin 1, an important gene for inflammation, was shown to be associated with AS. This year, two more genes (IL23R and ARTS1) have been discovered and the results just published; you can read the press release for yourself by clicking here.  We are hopeful that the IL23R discovery, in particular, might lead to new forms of treatment relatively soon.

Progress has been rapid but there is still much to be done. Using state of the art techniques the other major genes involved in AS can be discovered in the next year or two.  However, to achieve this we will need to study many more individuals with AS, and we would really value your assistance. Our aim is to recruit at least 3,000 individuals with AS from the UK because the biggest bottle neck to progress is the sample size rather than the available technology. To detect genes with relatively small but nonetheless significant effects we do need to investigate literally thousands of patients.

Participation involves donation of a single 30ml (2 tablespoon) blood sample which can usually be obtained with the help of local GP surgeries.  It is then posted to Oxford using special mail boxes.  They also require a short questionnaire to be completed which usually takes about 5 or 10 minutes.  

If you interested in taking part in the research, please contact Claire Farrar, the research nurse for the project, who would then contact you directly to explain more about the study and answer any questions you may have.  Her telephone number is 01865 737646, email is claire.farrar@ndos.ox.ac.uk. Please make sure you leave a telephone number and a time when it is convenient for her to contact you.

Thank you for your consideration
Jane Skerrett
Director