Development of an algorithm predicting the progression of patients from undifferentiated

This project is based in the thriving Birmingham Rheumatology Research Group (Institute of Inflammation and Ageing) which has an international reputation for successful integration of basic and clinical science, and for studying early arthritis clinical cohorts to develop strategies for better treatment of arthritis . Using tissue samples obtained using novel, minimally invasive techniques from patients at an early stage of arthritis, we recently published new biomarkers of rheumatoid arthritis using PCR techniques (Yeo et al, Ann Rheum Dis 2016, highest impact speciality journal IF12.4). Based on the success of this preliminary work, your project will use RNAseq to analyse detailed gene expression in our existing library of synovial tissue samples, identifying new biomarkers of pathogenesis, which can be validated in linked tissue, blood and cellular assays in order to improve diagnostic algorithms and understanding of early disease mechanisms. You will learn laboratory techniques including flow cytometry, confocal microscopy and cell sorting with supervision from Andrew Filer (Senior Clinical Lecturer) and Dagmar Scheel-Toellner (Reader), while training and supervision in bioinformatic analysis will be provided by Prof Jean-Baptiste Cazier and the Centre for Computational Biology. We are funded by MRC, NIHR and Arthritis Research UK (Centre of Excellence in Rheumatoid Arthritis).