Two Oxford scientists awarded charity funding for research into "poker back"
Two Oxford scientists have been awarded major grants by a medical research charity totalling almost half a million pounds to mount further research a painful form of arthritis known as "poker back."
Postdoctoral scientist Dr Simon Kollnberger has been awarded a five-year fellowship of more than £260,000, while specialist registrar Dr Antoni Chan has a three-year fellowship of more than £173,000 to investigate ankylosing spondylitis. The fellowships were awarded by medical research charity the Arthritis Research Campaign (arc).
Both are working with Dr Paul Bowness at the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington, Oxford.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory form of arthritis which affects around 100,000 people and which leads to inflammation and severe stiffness of the spine and less frequently other joints, causing pain, tiredness and discomfort. It is often undiagnosed for many years; there is no cure, and patients have to rely on painkillers and exercise regimes to keep mobile.
It is three times more common than men than in women, and famous sufferers include golfer Ian Woosnam and comedian Lee Hurst.
There is a strong genetic element to AS, with a gene called HLA-B27 found in 95 per cent of patients. Dr Kollnberger has been working in the research group of Dr Bowness and Professor Andrew McMichael. The group has discovered a new form of HLA-B27 which is stimulated by infection and inflammation. He plans to study how it is formed and the part it plays in the development of disease.
Dr Chan will investigate the role of natural killer (NK) cells, which are an important part of the body's immune system, and can interact with HLA-B27. By studying these interactions he hopes to develop a better model of the disease which may lead to treatments in the future.
arc already has a substantial AS research programme in Oxford, and pumps more than £1.5m worth of research into the condition in the city.
