New research could halt rheumatoid arthritis
The Australian Government is funding a promising treatment that could effectively put rheumatoid arthritis into remission and eliminate the need for lifelong immunotherapy.
A treatment that shows promise for effectively putting rheumatoid arthritis into remission and removing the need for ongoing immunotherapy is being funded by the Australian Government.
$11.54 million will be given to researchers at the University of Queensland to carry out innovative studies on immune system reset in rheumatoid arthritis patients, potentially removing the need for ongoing treatment.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, incurable illness that affects 450,000 Australians and is associated with pain, disability, and premature mortality. It happens when the body assaults its own joint proteins, mistaking them for alien material, causing the joints to swell, stiffen, and hurt.
In order to advance ground-breaking research and technology, the Reset Rheumatoid Arthritis project brings together professionals in immunotherapy, clinical trials, clinical practice, and consumer education.
Reset Rheumatoid Arthritis will progress toward the development of an immunotherapy known as antigen-specific tolerizing. In order to put patients into remission after stopping standard anti-rheumatic medication treatment, this tells the immune system to tolerate joint proteins.
Reset Rheumatoid Arthritis will now create a second-generation solution to be tested in upcoming clinical trials after positive early-phase experiments.
The Frontiers grant opportunity for medical research and health is offered by the Medical Research Future Fund.
The Frontiers grant program funds “moonshots”—ambitious, avant-garde, and ground-breaking research to address some of the most difficult medical issues facing our day. The government is funding research that could lead to the prevention and treatment of severe and terminal illnesses through this grant.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“Kamal and other patients understand the challenges of having rheumatoid arthritis.
“This condition’s persistent pain can have a severe negative impact on a person’s mental health as well as their capacity to operate and engage in daily activities.
“It gives me great pride to know that the Albanese Government is assisting Australian researchers in their “moonshot” project, which aims to help rheumatoid arthritis patients’ immune systems heal.
“For those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, this would be a world first and transformative.”
Quotes attributable to lead researcher, Professor Ranjeny Thomas:
“Now that we have an antigen-specific immunotherapy called ASITI-RA to rewire the immune system and maintain a long-term remission in rheumatoid arthritis, we can move more quickly to prepare for clinical trials of this treatment.
“We want to begin phase one clinical trials of the immunotherapy—which aims to lessen the requirement for lifelong immunosuppression—within two years.
It would improve the quality of life for patients and lessen the financial burden brought on by rheumatoid arthritis.
“This research has developed over many years, and we are thrilled to have this funding, which will help us move forward more quickly.”
Quotes attributable to rheumatoid arthritis patient, Kamal Dissanayake:
“I am ecstatic about the potential implications of this, both for myself and for the impact it may have on all rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.
The illness is quite prevalent and has a significant impact on lifestyle choices. I had difficulty typing when I was initially diagnosed. My shirt wouldn’t button. I believed that my career was coming to an end.
“With medication, it’s under control now, but I’m happy that there may be a cure, and I really value the work that the researchers are doing.”
