U of U Researchers May Have Discovered a Breakthrough for Treating Lyme Disease
(KUTV) A scientific breakthrough that could change the lives of those suffering from Lyme disease and rheumatoid arthritis as researchers at the University of Utah's Department of Pathology identifies a gene deficiency that makes individuals susceptible to developing severe inflammatory arthritis.
Their findings were published Thursday in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Their work - 20 years in the making - gives new insight into how the condition develops and into possible treats or even find a cure.
Dr. Janis Weis, Professor of Pathology at the U, started the study with former BYU professor Corey Tuscher, now with the University of Vermont, the goal is to identify the cellular processes that influence the severity of Lyme arthritis, "Why do some people get sick and other people do not."
Their findings became so much more than that, possibly improving the lives of those who suffer from Lyme disease but also rheumatoid arthritis, where symptoms can be similar.
Four years ago, Dr. Kenneth KC Bramwell came on board. "When I started, they had essentially a big haystack and I needed to find the needle in that haystack," Dr. Bramwell told 2News. He said through a process of refinement, they found it, "We've identified a gene, a pathway, and potentially a therapeutic strategy."
The lead author of the study, Dr. Bramwell explains they were able to correct that partial deficiency in test animals, and feel the results will be similar in patients. "We think that if we can achieve that, potentially through a drug target, we could essentially reduce the severity of disease in the human population."
They say the findings are exciting and they can't wait to take the next step working with the Centers for Disease Control and hospitals. A grant is currently under consideration to fund their work moving forward. Thus far, funding is thanks to the National Institutes of Health and The Arthritis Foundation.
By Amy Nay
Their findings were published Thursday in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Their work - 20 years in the making - gives new insight into how the condition develops and into possible treats or even find a cure.
Dr. Janis Weis, Professor of Pathology at the U, started the study with former BYU professor Corey Tuscher, now with the University of Vermont, the goal is to identify the cellular processes that influence the severity of Lyme arthritis, "Why do some people get sick and other people do not."
Their findings became so much more than that, possibly improving the lives of those who suffer from Lyme disease but also rheumatoid arthritis, where symptoms can be similar.
Four years ago, Dr. Kenneth KC Bramwell came on board. "When I started, they had essentially a big haystack and I needed to find the needle in that haystack," Dr. Bramwell told 2News. He said through a process of refinement, they found it, "We've identified a gene, a pathway, and potentially a therapeutic strategy."
The lead author of the study, Dr. Bramwell explains they were able to correct that partial deficiency in test animals, and feel the results will be similar in patients. "We think that if we can achieve that, potentially through a drug target, we could essentially reduce the severity of disease in the human population."
They say the findings are exciting and they can't wait to take the next step working with the Centers for Disease Control and hospitals. A grant is currently under consideration to fund their work moving forward. Thus far, funding is thanks to the National Institutes of Health and The Arthritis Foundation.
By Amy Nay
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