Chronic inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis are heterogeneous disorders leading to disability and serious loss of quality of life. Currently, no curative treatment is available, and patients are subjected to a prolonged course of treatment. Because of the high specificity and limited side effects, application of targeted therapies using various biologics is rapidly changing the outcome of RA. Evidence is accumulating that postponing the onset and, in established disease, drug free remission may be achieved if effective treatments are started in a timely manner.
Despite the availability of highly effective treatment options, the inter-individual variation in the onset, course of disease progression, and response to therapy, makes treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases difficult. Timing of effective treatment is essential for the final outcome and for prevention and retardation of tissue degeneration. Clinical balancing between applying timely and effective treatment but preventing unnecessary ineffective, costly, and potentially aggressive treatment is at present one of the main challenges in disease management. Hence, the ability to reach a timely outcome in preclinical and early disease, and to predict response are currently unmet needs in effective disease management of RA patients.
We hypothesize that insight in molecular and inflammatory pathways driving chronic inflammatory diseases allows biomarker discovery and development, which will enable tailored approaches to treatment.
The overall goal of this research program is to generate tools and prediction rules for decision making in clinical practice to start or adapt effective therapy, at the time when possible preventive opportunities exist, at diagnosis and at the moment of treatment. Therefore we will transform knowledge from molecular and immunological research to the benefit of effective treatment and eventually prevent and cure disease.
Specific aims are:
" To understand the molecular and immunological basis of disease heterogeneity in rheumatic diseases, in particular RA and SLE, and MS
" To select biomarkers that have clinical relevance in RA, SLE and MS
" To identify and validate biomarkers or a biomarker set at baseline that is predictive for the development of RA
" To identify and validate biomarkers or a biomarker set at baseline that is predictive for response to therapy
Cor Verweij PhD - program leader
Carina Bos MD - PhD student
Alexandro Martin Trujillo MD - PhD student
Saskia Stahlecker-Vosslamber MSc - PhD student
Auke Adema MSc - PhD student
Marjolein Blits MSc - PhD student
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