About Us
The PBC Foundation is the only UK organisation exclusively dedicated to providing support and information to those affected by PBC
Medical Research
|
Title |
Researcher |
Commenced |
Completed |
Amount |
Grant/Award |
|
Investigation into the Pathogenesis of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis |
Professor James Neuberger, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham |
October 1997 |
September 2000 |
£75,000 |
In conjunction with British Liver Trust |
|
These studies have provided a robust way of isolating and maintaining in culture human biliary epithelial cells (the main site of damage in PBC) so that laboratory studies can be carried out to investigate further the relationship between AMA and PBC. |
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|
Establishment of PBC Database |
Professor Oliver James, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle |
1997 |
1998 |
£10,000 |
Raised by Members of the PBC Foundation |
|
This allowed the creation of a national database. As well as allowing the formation of a database that will provide more information about people in the UK with PBC but also showed that doctors can work together effectively. |
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|
Improving the Assessment of Outcome in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis |
Professor Ann Jacoby, University of Liverpool Professor David Jones, University of Newcastle |
February 2000 |
January 2003 |
£128,400 |
Community Fund |
|
Development of the Health-Related Quality of Life Measure, namely the PBC 40 |
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|
Newly Discovered Microbial Mimics as Triggers of PBC |
Professor Diego Vergani, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London |
March 2000 |
August 2001 |
£5,000 |
Bequeathed by Edgar Ernest of Dorset |
|
These studies looked at whether microbes (such as some bacteria) can confuse the body’s immune system so that instead of reacting with microbes, the immune system attacks similar targets in the liver. They showed that there may be cross-reaction with a number of bacteria, which could trigger PBC in some individuals. |
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The Role of the Pregnane X receptor in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Pathogenesis |
Dr Matthew C Wright, University of Aberdeen |
October 2003 |
October 2006 |
£75,000 |
Raised by Members of the PBC Foundation |
|
This study looked at a protein called PXR and studied whether activation of this inhibits inflammation in the liver. Since PXR activation promotes hepatocyte growth and is also anti-fibrogenic, the PXR may be an excellent drug target for the treatment of chronic inflammatory liver disease and PBC. |
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|
Genetic Study into Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
|
Dr George Mells Dr Graeme Alexander Dr Richard Sandford |
June 2008 In progress
|
£50,000
|
Raised by Members of the PBC Foundation |
|
|
The PBC Genetics Study was a UK-wide initiative to establish the UKPBC Research Cohort, a cohort of more than 4000 PBC patients for population-level research, including large-scale genetic studies. DNA samples obtained from the UKPBC Research Cohort were used for a genome-wide association study of PBC in 2010 and an iCHIP study of PBC in 2012. The PBC Genetics Study has now evolved into the UKPBC Project, which is broader in its ambition to elucidate the biological origins of PBC. |
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Role of Biliary Senesence in Cholestatic Liver Disease |
Dr Simon Rushbrooke & Dr GJ Alexander Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital |
March 2012 |
In progress |
£80,000 |
Bequeathed by Barbara Greaves (Fellowship Award) |
|
This programme is currently underway. |
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