Sunday, April 29, 2012

Your Contribution to RA Research

Think you can’t donate your tissue since you have rheumatoid arthritis?  Think again.  Researchers want your tissue and blood samples in order to conduct a variety of research projects.

The Robert S. Boas Center for Genomics & Human Genetics, as part of the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in New York, is examining patterns in the human genome to find specific genetic risks for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus to Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. 

Here is where the average RA patient can participate.  If you are scheduled to undergo orthopedic surgery, you can choose to contribute to the Tissue Donation Program - Synovial Tissue Collection study led by Dr. Gulko.  The purpose of the study is two-fold: 1) to collect synovial tissue and blood to study the genetic and environmental factors involved in the development and severity of arthritis, and 2) to save or “bank” unused portions of the synovial tissue and blood for future studies.  Currently, the Feinstein Institute is conducting at least seven clinical studies related to rheumatoid arthritis.

Synovial tissue often obtained during orthopedic surgery or through a needle biopsy has been a source of research material for decades. Often tissue samples are taken from the knee joint, but which method provides better samples?  Researchers found that most microscopic features of inflammation were similar regardless of collection method. (Bresnihan et al. Synovial biopsy in arthritis research: five years of concerted European collaboration (pdf). Ann Rheum Dis 2000;59:506-510.)

Read this post in its entirety:

Donated Tissue Samples, Essential for RA Research

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