Discovering New Diagnostic Protein Markers for Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis
Scientific study title:
Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis Proteomics to Identify Novel Biomarkers (SPIN)
Principal Investigators:
May Choi, MD, FRCPC
Rheumatology Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary; Research Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada
Antoine Dufour, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology; Assistant Professor
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, McCaig Institute for Bone & Joint Health, University of Calgary
Co-Investigators:
Dr. Mark Tarnopolksy (McMaster University, Hamilton), Dr. Marie Hudson (Jewish General Hospital, Montreal), Dr. Ross Mitchell (University of Alberta), Dr. Karen Costenbader (Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston) and Dr. Marvin Fritzler (MitogenDx, Calgary).
Study Start Date:
May 2022
Study End Date:
June 2024
Why do this research?
Sporadic Inclusion Body (sIBM) myositis is a challenging disease to diagnose and currently relies on invasive muscle biopsy. There is often a delay in diagnosis such that many patients suffer from severe disability by the time a diagnosis is made.
What will be done?
In this study, we will identify proteins in the blood and muscle that are useful in detecting sIBM. We will use a sophisticated method called mass spectrometry to scan for abnormal levels of proteins common among sIBM patients. Machine learning will be used to interpret this data. The results will allow us to create a panel of protein tests that doctors can readily use in their clinics when assessing patients for sIBM.
Who is involved?
Dr. Dufour will be leading his team of experts in mass spectrometry to conduct the protein tests. Dr. Choi will analyze the results with her team of machine learning experts and collaborators. Patients with sIBM are part of the McMaster sIBM registry led by Dr. Mark Tarnopolksy and the Canadian Inflammatory Myopathy Study registry by Dr. Marie Hudson.
Funding Agency
University of Calgary
