Biomarkers of COX-2 inhibition and NSAID cardiovascular side effects (Dr Ricky Vaja)
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen are good at treating inflammation but may also increase a person’s chance of having a heart attack or stroke. However, exactly how they increase this risk is uncertain. NSAIDs work by blocking an enzyme called COX-2. In this project, state-of-the-art techniques known as ‘-omics’ technologies will be used to measure 22,000 different substances in the blood of people taking NSAIDs. In one part of the study, they will analyse the blood of healthy volunteers taking an NSAID called celecoxib, while also measuring heart and kidney function. In a second part, they will analyse the blood of people already taking part in the SCOT clinical trial, which is looking at the risk of heart attack in people taking celecoxib for arthritis. By comparing the blood profiles of those who have healthy heart function with those taking celecoxib, and those who go on to have a heart attack, they hope to identify biomarkers that can be used to predict who is most at risk. This research could lead to a simple blood test that would tell doctors which patients who take NSAIDs are at risk. Importantly, it would also allow most people who are taking NSAIDs and are not at risk to continue their course of treatment without worry.
Project details
| Grant amount | £264,391 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Fellowships |
| Application type | Clinical Research Training Fellowship |
| Start Date | 03 April 2019 |
| Duration | 3 years, 4 months |
| Reference | FS/19/6/34129 |
| Status | In Progress |
