Applications are invited for a PhD studentship funded by the Psoriasis Association, titled: "Risk of cancer in psoriasis patients treated with biologic therapies compared with conventional systemic therapies: results from the BADBIR".
Project Description
Psoriasis is a lifelong immune-mediated skin condition. Current conventional systemic and newer biologic therapies used to treat psoriasis are immunosuppressive and thus may increase the risk of recipients developing cancer. However, studies of cancer risk to date have been limited by small numbers, short-term follow-up, and/or failure to include a latency period or adjust adequately for confounding factors. The proposed project will be conducted using the British Association of Dermatologists Biologic Interventions Register (BADBIR), a world-leading longitudinal, observational, web-based study of over 13,000 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis receiving conventional systemic therapies (e.g. methotrexate; ciclosporin; acitretin) and/or biologic therapies (e.g. Humira; Stelara; Enbrel).
The aim is to determine whether there is an increased risk of developing cancer (excluding keratinocyte (skin) cancer) in psoriasis patients treated with biologic therapy compared with those treated only with conventional systemic therapies. Patients registered in the BADBIR who have no history of cancer, other than keratinocyte cancer, and who are receiving their first biologic therapy (“biologic cohort”) will be compared to BADBIR-registered patients receiving a conventional systemic treatment (“conventional cohort”).
Incidence rates will be calculated for each cohort with Cox-proportional hazard modelling used to determine whether the rate of cancer is higher in those receiving biologics, while taking account potential confounding factors including age, sex, smoking, alcohol, obesity, and previous biologic and conventional systemic therapies. Findings will be presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed, open-access journals for dissemination to key stakeholders, including the scientific, clinical and patient communities.
Applicants are expected to hold, or about to obtain, a minimum upper second class undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in biomedicine, psychology, epidemiology, medical statistics or related discipline and to have skills in biostatistics or statistics and data management. A Masters degree and/or experience in biostatistics or statistics or a related quantitative discipline is desirable.
Enquires can be made to Dr. Kayleigh Mason ([log in to unmask]) or Prof. Richard Warren ([log in to unmask]).
https://www.findaphd.com/search/projectdetails.aspx?PJID=86677
Application Deadline: 15th September, 2017 (likely to be extended)
Funding Notes
This 3-year full-time PhD is fully funded by the Psoriasis Association and will commence in January 2018.
The studentship will cover UK/EU tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend.
References
1. Takeshita et al. (2017) Psoriasis and comorbid diseases: Implications for management. JAAD. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.07.065
2. Davison et al. (2017) Identification of factors that may influence the selection of first-line biologic therapy for people with psoriasis: a prospective, multi-centre cohort study. BJD. doi: 10.1111/bjd.15551
3. Iskandar et al. (2016) Patterns of biologic therapy use in the management of psoriasis: cohort study from the British Association of Dermatologists Biologic Interventions Register (BADBIR). BJD. doi: 10.1111/bjd.15027
4. Warren et al. (2015) Differential Drug Survival of Biologic Therapies for the Treatment of Psoriasis: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study from the British Association of Dermatologists Biologic Interventions Register (BADBIR). JID. 135(11):2632-40. doi: 10.1038/jid.2015.208
5. Burden et al. (2012) The British Association of Dermatologists' Biologic Interventions Register (BADBIR): design, methodology and objectives. BJD. 166(3):545-54. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.10835.
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