The Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology (EMR) is the leading centre worldwide for biopsy-driven stratified-medicine randomised clinical trials and all patients participating in PEAC/PEsAC will undergo a synovial biopsy of at least one inflamed joint. A needle is placed into the joint under local anaesthetic and guided by ultrasound. Several pieces of tissue of approximately 1-2 mm2 are taken from the lining of the joint. The synovial biopsy may be repeated at 6 months, but this is optional for participants.
All tissue samples are sent to EMR’s central laboratory located at Charterhouse Square in London for processing and storage.
Biopsies are collected in
