Lupus research in Manchester under the spotlight
 |
| Photograph shows L-R: Prof Caroline Gordon (University of Birmingham), Prof David Isenberg (UCL), Prof Graham Hughes (London Bridge Hospital), Mrs Marjorie Susman (wife of Ambassador L Susman) and Prof Ian Bruce |
20 January 2010
Ian Bruce, Professor of Rheumatology at The University of Manchester, was among leading clinicians and academics involved in lupus research to attend two prestigious gatherings in London recently.
The first was hosted by the Prime Minister’s wife, Sarah Brown, at 10 Downing Street, while the second was held by Ambassador Louis and Mrs Marjorie Susman at the US Ambassador’s residence in Regents Park.
Professor Bruce said: “Both meetings allowed us to explain our current research priorities in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – a multisystem autoimmune condition that commonly affects women in their child-bearing years – as well as some of the limitations and challenges in undertaking research in less common rheumatic diseases.
“They also provided an excellent opportunity to network with other UK researchers and a number of the projects that we are leading through The University of Manchester were felt to be of great importance and highly relevant to patient care.”
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) affects approximately one in 2,000 women in the UK and is particularly common in individuals of Indo-Asian, Chinese or African ancestry.
The team of researchers, led by Professor Bruce within the Musculoskeletal Research Group, have a major focus on long-term outcomes with patients with SLE, in particular, premature cardiovascular disease, fatigue and long-term safety of novel therapies.
Professor Bruce added: “We are the lead centre for the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) Biologics Register as well as a European study examining fatigue in patients with lupus. The team also includes two research fellows studying cardiovascular complications of SLE and examining biomarkers that may help better predict cardiovascular complications in SLE patients.”
SLE research in Manchester is supported by arc, Lupus UK, The Canadian Institutes for Health Research and The Manchester NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. The Kellgren Centre for Rheumatology, Central Manchester Foundation Trust is a Lupus UK Centre of Excellence.
Ends