Transcriptional analysis and biomarker discovery in autoimmune disease (360G-Wellcome-094227_Z_10_Z)

We have established a translational programme of biomarker discovery in a number of autoimmune diseases, recruiting over 500 patients for whom detailed prospective clinical data has been collected, and performing microarray expression analysis on purified cell subsets. Despite having analysed < 25% of the samples collected we have discovered a novel CD8 T cell-based biomarker which predicts prognosis in 4 different autoimmune/inflammatory conditions (e.g. McKinney et al. Nat Med 2010; 16:586-58 9), has been patented and will be assessed in clinical trials. We now seek funding to finish the processing and analysis of this cohort, in order to: i. refine the biomarkers already found, creating a practical clinical assay ii. extend the investigation of the current biomarkers into related conditions iii. discover novel diagnostic biomarkers, improving classification of these heterogeneous conditions iv. determine if transcriptional changes in response to therapy predict prognosis v . associate transcriptional pathways with specific patient subgroups or diseases, illuminating both pathogenic mechanisms and suggesting novel targets for treatment The unique nature of this resource, together with substantial preliminary data which demonstrate its promise, underlined the potential for completion of this important work to produce results that could directly impact patient care in the short to medium term.