BIOPSICO

The study looks at tiny samples of tissue, collected with a needle, from the inflamed joint lining of trial participants before and after they receive arthritis treatment.

Participants will be invited to have a blood test and a biopsy procedure to collect a small sample of the inflamed joint tissue under local anaesthetic and using ultrasound guidance. The tissue will be studied to learn which cells and proteins are present and how this makes arthritis different from one person to another.  

Participation is open to all people with a swollen or inflamed joint, (arthritis or synovitis) irrespective of their diagnosis or treatment. Participation in the study will not affect any planned clinical treatments. Biopsies will be scheduled just before the start of a new treatment, with follow up visits and biopsies at three and six months after treatment.

Some diseases that cause inflammation in the joints can also cause inflammation in other organs such as the skin or the gut. Therefore, participants with conditions that cause arthritis and additional symptoms, such as a rash, will be offered additional optional biopsies of those organs. This may help to develop future treatments that can benefit more than one organ where inflammation occurs.

Where is the study?

The study visits will be conducted at the Clinical Research Facility at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, and the Experimental Medicine Clinical Research Facility (EMCRF) at the Churchill Hospital.

How to get to the EMCRF.

Where can I find out more?

It describes in detail what the study is about and what your involvement would look like should you decide to participate. It also contains the answers to the most common questions participants may have.

Interested in taking part?

Any questions, or would you like to take part?

You can get in touch by emailing us (BIOPSICO@kennedy.ox.ac.uk), or giving us a call on 01865 612631.

Thank you to the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) for these brilliant videos!