Hypersensitivity Study: A Mechanistic Investigation into Drug and Chemical Induced Hypersensitivity Reactions

Research summary

Adverse drug reactions (ADR's) are a common cause of drug-related morbidity and may account for about 6.5% of all hospital admissions. Our research shows that ADRs cost the NHS at least £700 million per annum. A meta-analysis of studies performed in the USA has shown that ADRs may be the fourth commonest cause of death. ADRs are also a significant impediment to drug development, and a significant cause of drug withdrawal. Prevention of adverse drug reactions is important for all health-care professions as well as the pharmaceutical industry. The purpose of this research is to investigate the mechanism(s) of drug-induced and/or chemical-induced hypersensitivity reactions. This research is directed towards the prediction and prevention of adverse drug reactions, and in particular, the type B or idiosyncratic ADRs. We feel that the problem needs to be addressed from complementary perspectives: • A chemical perspective in order to design out toxicity; • Development of accurate diagnostic assays for hypersensitivity reactions; and • An individual perspective in order to define the genetic and non-genetic risk factors so that drug therapy can be individualised. This application addresses all perspectives by investigating hapten formation in patient plasma, evaluating the cellular mechanism of hypersensitive reactions induced by drugs and/or chemicals and identification of genomic factors that predispose individuals to adverse reactions.

Principal Investigator

Dalia Khan

Contact us

Email: christopher.deane@ouh.nhs.uk

IRAS number

105915