Oliver FitzGerald
Rheumatologist, University College Dublin and Co-lead, HIPPOCRATES project
Prof Stephen R Pennington
Professor of Proteomics, Senior Fellow, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin and Co-lead, HIPPOCRATES project
Learn about HPOS (HIPPOCRATES Prospective Observational Study), an online study which aims to monitor the progression of psoriasis to psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
The HPOS study hopes to find ways to prevent the development of PsA in the future. Participants who are over 18 and diagnosed with psoriasis, but not with PsA, are asked to complete questionnaires every six months.
Monitored psoriasis study recruitment
Participants’ progress is monitored for three years. Those who develop potential symptoms of PsA are informed about their risks and receive a recommendation to seek appropriate medical assessment. Some participants might be invited to take part in optional remote blood sampling for studying biomarkers. More than 1,900 Irish people with psoriasis have already registered to participate in HPOS, and the study is still recruiting.
Psoriasis affects around 60 million
people worldwide, and at least
73,000 individuals in Ireland.
Psoriasis, PsA risks and underdiagnosis
Psoriasis affects around 60 million people worldwide, and at least 73,000 individuals in Ireland. It is a chronic, genetic, inflammatory skin condition, affecting both sexes equally. There is currently no cure. Psoriasis also increases the risk of developing PsA, with about 30% of psoriasis patients developing PsA. PsA symptoms include joint pain, stiffness, loss of joint function, lack of sleep and general fatigue. A diagnosis is often delayed due to a lack of awareness about PsA.
EU PsA research partnership
HIPPOCRATES is an ambitious European public-private partnership. Its goals are: the identification of specific PsA disease biomarkers to aid early diagnosis and prediction of which people with psoriasis will develop PsA; the monitoring and prevention of PsA disease progression; and the identification of personalised treatments. The team is made up of 27 organisations in 11 countries. These include universities, pharmaceutical industry partners, small companies and patient representative organisations, all with the aligned ambition of addressing the key challenges of PsA. Led by investigators at University College Dublin, HIPPOCRATES is a five-year project which started in 2021 and received €22.4 million in funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI; recently renamed IHI).
For more information on HIPPOCRATES and to register for HPOS, go to HPOS.study
This project has received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking (JU) under grant agreement No 101007757. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and EFPIA.
