Autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK are affected by autoimmune conditions. These conditions occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks and damages its own tissues, instead of just targeting foreign microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria which make us ill. The areas that are damaged varies between conditions but can include vital tissues and organs including the skin, lungs, heart, kidneys, and gut, as well as the joints.

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases are challenging to research and treat due to their rare and complex nature. We have invested a total of £47 million into research investigating the cause of these diseases, as well as pushing to find new and novel treatments. We funded important research which reduced the rate of miscarriage in women with antiphospholipid syndrome. But we still don’t know all the answers. The expertise of this group, which includes people with arthritis, will shape the future of this research.

The advisory groups aim is to listen to, and prioritise, the unmet needs of people living with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Working together, they can identify what new therapies and services people living with these conditions need. We can then identify what research we need to do to in order to meet this.

We plan to communicate the need and importance for this research to other organisations that fund and influence research into autoimmune rheumatic diseases. More investment and research into these conditions is needed and could lead to the new therapies and services that are urgently needed to stop autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Conditions covered by this group include:

• Lupus
• Antiphospholipid syndrome
• Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis)
• Sjogren’s syndrome
• Myositis
• Vasculitis
• Bechet’s syndrome
• Undifferentiated connective tissue disease.

Ed Vital leads a lupus research group at the University of Leeds School of Medicine. With interests in early disease, skin disease, musculoskeletal outcome measures, translational immunology and B cell therapies.  

Since 2019 Ed has led the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG). Redefining its aims away from a single disease activity instrument to a broader role in clinical care of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), developing guidelines, interacting with LupusUK, developing new talent in SLE clinicians and research, as well as delivering research projects. Ed is also General Secretary of the European Lupus Society (SLEuro) and is on the global steering committee of Transform Lupus. In which a group of clinical academics defined major goals of lupus care, with his personal emphasis being on glucocorticoid tapering also identified as a key aim of the ARD RAG. 

• Dr Ed Vital (ARD RAG Lead). Associate Professor, Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist - University of Leeds
• TBC - ARD RAG Deputy Lead.
• Dr Deepa Jayakody Arachchillage. Consultant Haematologist, Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer - Imperial College London
• Dr Neil Basu. Clinical Senior Lecturer in Rheumatology, Honorary Consultant (Immunology) - University of Glasgow
• Lucy Brett. Versus Arthritis Research Partner
• Professor Hector Chinoy. Senior Clinical Lecturer in Rheumatology - University of Manchester
• Colette Clenaghan. Versus Arthritis Research Partner
• Annabel Dawson. Versus Arthritis Research Partner
• Professor Chris Denton. Professor of Experimental Rheumatology - University College London
• Dr Emma Derrett-Smith. Consultant Rheumatologist - University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Division of Medicine
• Dr Shirish Dubey. Consultant Rheumatologist - Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Sue Farrington. Rare Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease Alliance Chair (ex officio representation), Scleroderma and Raynaud's UK Chief Executive
• Professor Ann Morgan. Professor of Rheumatology - University of Leeds
• Dr Andrea Murray. Senior Research Fellow - University of Manchester
• Louise Parker. Lead Nurse (Specialist Practice) - Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
• Dr John Pauling. Consultant Rheumatologist, Senior Lecturer - University of Bath
• Dr Antony Psarras. Academic Clinical Lecturer/Honorary Speciality Registrar in Rheumatology – University of Oxford and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
• Sophie Wilson. Versus Arthritis Research Partner

Paediatric Rheumatology Clinical Study Group Representative

Professor Coziana Ciurtin, Professor of Rheumatology, Honorary Consultant in Adolescent and Adult Rheumatology – University College London.

To express an interest in joining a Research Advisory Group, please email awards@versusarthritis.org.