WIMR researchers investigate biomarkers and B-cell signatures to improve precision medicine in Sjögren’s disease

Now in its fifth year, WIMR’s integrated Sjögren’s disease research program is advancing work to improve diagnosis, monitoring and risk prediction in one of the most common systemic autoimmune diseases. The program focuses on understanding the immunological mechanisms of Sjögren’s disease and translating those findings back to the clinic.

A key focus of the research is the identification of biomarkers that may facilitate precision medicine in Sjögren’s disease, including better prediction of severe complications. The team is also using leftover salivary gland tissue, routinely biopsied during diagnostic work-up, to study the repertoire of B cells involved in disease. These data are being correlated with patient-reported outcomes to help ensure the research remains translational and clinically meaningful.

The program is supported by the Western Sydney Sjögren’s Disease Biobank, established five years ago by Dr Adrian Lee, which contains biospecimens and clinical information from more than 100 patients. According to WIMR, it is one of the very few Sjögren’s biobanks and registries in Australia and provides an important platform for ongoing and future studies.

Dr Adrian Lee said, “One of the biggest challenges in Sjögren’s disease research is misconceptions about the severity of the condition. This leads to generally a poor awareness and appreciation, even amongst the medical community, limiting funding options.

WIMR says the broader aim of the work is to improve earlier diagnosis, disease prediction and monitoring, and to develop avenues for targeted therapeutic strategies in a condition where there are currently no targeted therapies available. The research sits within WIMR’s Centre for Immunology and Allergy Research and is closely integrated with Westmead Hospital’s Clinical Immunology Sjögren’s clinic, patient research partners, diagnostic laboratories, Oral Medicine teams, consumer partners and collaborating scientific teams. WIMR describes the program as one of the few integrated Sjögren’s research efforts in Australia, with few other places in the country having the same level of integration.