Grant: Team Grant: Health Challenges in Chronic Inflammation Initiative (LOI)

Chronic inflammatory diseases have long-lasting and debilitating effects on patients with regard to pain, locomotion, poor function of inflicted organs and deteriorating quality of life, and some times they are life threatening. Erythropoietin-producing hepatocyte kinases (Ephs) are the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Ephrins (EFNs), the molecules which bind to Ephs, are also cell surface molecules. Our recent studies revealed that Ephs and EFNs have important functions in several chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) and multiple sclerosis (MS). We have assembled a team of researchers and clinicians who are experts in these diseases to investigate the roles of Ephs and EFNs in inducing these diseases, and in determining the cause and severity of these diseases. The studies will be conducted in animal models of disease and in patients affected by RA, OA and MS. These researchers and clinicians will pool their resource such as special reagents and animals, technology expertise, instruments, clinical samples and patient access. Our concerted efforts will greatly accelerate the research on these diseases with a view to a better patient care in the future.