Grant: Catalyst Grant: SPOR Innovative Clinical Trials - Indigenous Health Research

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune arthritis that affects the joints and causes long-term disability. It disproportionately affects females and First Nations people, and there is no cure for it. Current treatments are costly and can have serious side effects. The pre-clinical phase of RA is marked by the development of autoantibodies that predict future RA onset. Identifying individuals with pre-RA is crucial for conducting clinical trials to prevent RA. However, this remains a major challenge, especially among First Nations people many of whom live in remote communities in Canada. This grant aims to address these challenges by establishing a multi-site Canadian screening platform using novel dried blood spot technology to identify First Nations individuals with pre-RA. The goal is to create a network of patients with lived experiences to inform the design of an innovative adaptive platform trial to screen for, and prevent RA. The grant proposes three specific aims. 1. To expand a screening protocol developed in Manitoba to Alberta, to identify individuals with pre-RA in remote and urban communities. 2. Establish a structured organization of researchers and people with lived experience (PWLE) to work towards RA prevention in First Nations people. 3. Design an adaptive platform master protocol to ultimately conduct an RA prevention clinical trial. The trial design will co-developed with PWLEs to ensure that the trial includes patient perspectives and priorities in mind. This grant has the potential to make a significant impact on the prevention of RA in First Nations people. By identifying individuals with pre-RA and conducting clinical trials, we can develop effective interventions to prevent the onset of RA and improve the health outcomes and quality of life for affected individuals.