Accurate Typing and individualized Prevention and treatment of preclinical Rheumatoid Arthritis Based on Citrullinated Protein Mapping.
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Göteborgs universitet - Avdelningen för reumatologi och inflammationsforskning vid Institutionen för medicin |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 5 182 566 |
| Project duration | December 2020 - November 2023 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Bilateral call for proposals with China |
| Call | Research, development and innovation in the fields of life science, traffic safety and applied ICT - China collaboration |
Purpose and goal
We have developed two new test prototypes that can lead to an earlier and more refined diagnosis of RA and that can also classify patients with new-onset RA into subgroups depending on disease outcome. We have also identified additional autoantibodies that increase the prediction of RA development. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and thus few hospital visits, the prototypes could not be tested in China; instead, the diagnostic performance of the prototype has been confirmed in several independent European cohorts. Protective antibodies were tested in several animal models.
Expected results and effects
We have refined the diagnostic test so that it now has high sensitivity and specificity for RA, can predict disease and also prognosis in patients with new-onset disease. This means faster diagnosis and an opportunity to help guide treatment decisions. We have identified autoantibodies that protect against arthritis in animal models and clarified their mechanism of action. As recombinant monoclonals, these have great therapeutic potential in the treatment of RA.
Planned approach and implementation
The structure of the project with five partners and five work packages strengthened international co-operation between academic institutions and small businesses. The work between the Swedish partners was carried out according to plan and the project objectives were achieved. Regardless of the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, we had regular meetings between the Swedish and Chinese partners and the international cooperation was adjusted according to the current conditions so that each party´s goals would be achieved in the best possible way.