Research lines

• Prognostic factors in early arthritis

  • Prognostic factors (clinical and immunogenetic) in patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Production of new synthetic citrullinated and carbamylated  peptides for the design of immunoassays with diagnostic and prognostic value in recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis and palindromic rheumatism.
  • Randomized clinical trial : Effects of abatacept on the progression to rheumatoid arthritis  in patients with palindromic rheumatism (PALABA study). EudractCT: 2017-004543-20

• Clinical and sonographic characterization of clinical remission

  • Definition and clinical characterization of subclinical 'active synovitis'
  • Immunopathological and molecular characterization of subclinical 'active synovitis'
  • Research of biomarkers of clinical reactivation and radiographic progression

• Immunopathology of synovitis in chronic arthritis

  • Utility in pathogenesis, differential diagnosis and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Immunopathological changes induced by biological treatments. Mechanism of action of targeted therapies. Synovial response biomarkers.
  • We are collaborating as Spanish Reference Center in synovial immunopathology in two strategic clinical trials based in stratification of patients according the enrichment o B-cells in synovial membrane. Centers around UK and Europe are participating in these pioneering clinical trials very relevant to achieve a personalized medicine.
  • Randomised open labelled study in anti-TNFα inadequate responders to investigate the mechanisms of Response – Resistance to Rituximab versus Tocilizumab in RA (R4-RA Trial). IP: Prof. C. Pitzalis, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK)
  • Randomised open labelled study in Metrotexate inadequate responders to investigate the mechanisms of Response – Resistance to Etanercept versus Rituximab versus Tocilizumab in RA (STRAP-EU Trial)

• Pharmacogenomics of chronic arthritis

  • Genetic biomarkers associated with biological therapy response in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis

• The gut-joint axis in rheumatoid arthritis patients: role of microbiota-induced intestinal T follicular helper cells and innate immune cells in the pathogenesis of the disease

  • Collaboration with F. Ciccia (Naples University) and G. Schett (Erlangën University) to know the interaction and physiopathological relevance of the gut-joint interaction