Participation requires completion of a questionnaire, collection of a DNA sample, which for 2 of the 3 studies simply requires running a soft brush in the inside of the cheek to collect those cells. I also review medical records to confirm diagnoses. Parents and other family members are asked to complete a short questionnaire and provide a cheek brushing. We believe that by first focusing on the susceptibility genes, we can more effectively identify the factors that trigger disease onset among genetically susceptible people. We do not enroll more extended relatives unless they also have RA or lupus.
Participation is free.
What we know so far is that both RA and lupus are genetically complex diseases. This means that multiple genes AND environmental factors interact to cause the disease. This has greatly complicated attempts to define the genes that cause these diseases. In the past few years however, new tools have become available that make this challenge much more approachable. We have assembled a team of individuals with a range of expertise to tackle this challenge.