Opportunities

Become a Lowance Center research volunteer

Do you want to know how well your immune system functions?
Do you have coronary artery disease?
Do you have rheumatoid arthritis?
Do you have giant cell arteritis?

Our current knowledge about a healthy human immune system is limited. We have only a few tests available to evaluate normal and abnormal immune functions in humans. Ideally, we would like to offer a panel of blood tests through which the age of the immune system and its ability to respond can be assessed. Our goal is to develop tests that predict subtle forms of immune dysfunction and help us design therapeutic interventions that can restore healthy immunity. We would like to understand why some individuals generate more intense inflammation and how this inflammation puts them at risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, and autoimmune disease.

We are seeking volunteers who want to support our efforts to explore the human immune system. Your involvement will ensure that our research teams are able to continue studying these central facets of human health. Currently, we have the following opportunities to participate as a research volunteer.

1. T cells and aging

Background: The immune system is our only line of defense for fighting infections and cancer. With age, the production of new cells of the immune system, called lymphocytes, declines, and the pool of lymphocytes grows older and increasingly dysfunctional. These changes are already apparent in middle-aged individuals and lead to increased risks for cancer, infections, and diminished vaccine responses. It is, therefore, important to identify how these changes occur and find ways to prevent or reverse them.

Purpose of Study: The goal of this study is to identify changes in the immune system that occur with aging.

Procedures:

• Volunteers must be 18-80 years old and in good health.
• All participants will have a single blood draw. Less than three tablespoons of blood will be taken from a vein in your arm.
• Some participants will have a second blood draw within 1 year.

WHOM TO CONTACT:
Please contact our administrative office at 404.727.7310.

2. Studies of Immunopathways in Acute Coronary Syndromes

Background: Most heart attacks are precipitated by rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque in a coronary artery. This plaque rupture is caused by plaque inflammation that injures the vessel wall. It is, therefore, important to identify why plaque inflammation occurs in some individuals and find ways to prevent or reverse the inflammation.

Purpose of Study: The goal of this study is to identify immunological risk factors that predispose some people for heart attacks.

Procedures:

• Volunteers must be 18-70 years old and have a history of heart attack or a history of stable coronary artery disease. We are also looking for volunteers who are in good health and without cardiac problems and cardiovascular risk factors.
• All participants will have a single blood draw. Less than three tablespoons of blood will be taken from a vein in your arm.
• Some participants will have a second blood draw within 1 year.

WHOM TO CONTACT:
Please contact our administrative office at 404.727.7310.

3. Studies of Chronic Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases

Background: Chronic inflammatory joint disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, is painful, disfiguring, and eventually leads to disability. Joint inflammation involves cells of the immune system infiltrating into the joint layer and causing destruction of cartilage, tendons, and bone. It is not known why some individuals are at risk to develop rheumatoid arthritis and how their immune system can be restored in such a way that joint destruction is prevented.

Purpose of Study: This study is being done to learn more about the role of the immune system in chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis. The study will explore:

• how the immune system causes chronic and harmful inflammation;
• inherited (genetic) and acquired (not genetic or inherited) factors that put individuals at risk for such diseases;
• which signs, symptoms, or tests can predict the course of disease in a patient and how the patient will respond to therapy.

Procedures:

• Volunteers must be 18-80 years old and carry the diagnosis of a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease, e.g., rheumatoid arthritis.
• All participants will have a single blood draw. Less than three tablespoons of blood will be taken from a vein in your arm.

WHOM TO CONTACT:

Please contact our administrative office at 404.727.7310.

4. Studies of Inflammatory Blood Vessel Disease in Humans

Background: Giant cell arteritis is the most frequent vasculitis in people older than 50 years. If untreated, it can cause blindness and stroke. In patients with giant cell arteritis, lymphocytes enter the blood vessel wall of selected arteries and inflict injuries that finally lead to blood vessel occlusion. Some patients have a minor form of giant cell arteritis, which is called polymyalgia rheumatica. 10% of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica develop vasculitis at some time. It is therefore important to learn what triggers the inflammation, why blood vessels are affected in some patients, why they are protected in other patients, and how the disease can be better treated.

Purpose of Study: The goal of this study is to identify the immunological triggers of the inflammation in giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica and the factors that lead to blood vessel inflammation in patients with giant cell arteritis.

Procedures:

• Volunteers must be older than 50 years and have giant cell arteritis or polymyalgia rheumatica. Patients with suspected, but not proven, giant cell arteritis should first be seen in the vasculitis clinic.
• All participants will have a single blood draw. Less than three tablespoons of blood will be taken from a vein in your arm.
• Some participants will have a second blood draw within 1 year.

WHOM TO CONTACT:

Please contact our administrative office at 404.727.7310.