Research Award 2025 (3)

Dr Christian Hedrich, Professor of Child Health & Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist, University of Liverpool and Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust;

Dr Clare Pain, Consultant Rheumatologist, Honorary Associate Professor, University of Liverpool and Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust;

Dr Stefano Romano, Paediatric Rheumatology Fellow, Meyer Hospital, Florence, Italy.

Research Project:  MEMOIR: Molecular mechanisms in paediatric and adult-onset Behçet’s Disease – a guide to individualised care. 

Behçet’s disease is a rare chronic inflammatory disease that can cause inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis).  It commonly affects the membranes lining the mouth, genitalia, skin and eyes. Because blood vessels are present throughout the body, Behçet’s disease can be even more widespread and affect any organ. In most cases, Behçet’s disease affects adults between 20-40 years old.  However, up to 25% of patients develop Behçet’s disease before their 16th birthday.

 Factors that cause Behçet’s disease are not completely understood.  There are inherited ‘genetic’ factors that increase the risk for Behçet’s disease but are not ‘strong’ enough to cause disease. Therefore, environmental exposure is necessary to result in the development of Behçet’s disease in people at (genetic) risk.  The connection between genetic risk and environmentally mediated epigenetic mechanisms has not been systematically studied in Behçet’s disease. 

 This study will improve our understanding of Behçet’s disease, linking genetic risk with environmental impact. Understanding mechanisms contributing to disease development will allow us to identify biomarkers for diagnosis and outcome prediction. It will furthermore inform the development of new individualised treatments.