There are 2 research opportunities open to people in Ireland that might be of interest to you if you were ever considering taking part in a study or clinical trial.
Number 1
The first one is a trial of a medicine called Bimekizumab, which acts on a part of the immune system that is associated with inflammation. It has been successfully trialled in people with psoriasis with positive results, and the doctors believe it is effective in HS also.
There are several trials for Bimekizumab at the moment for treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa, and one of these trials is in St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin. You can read more about it here
If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial of this medicine, you can contact beheardvincents@gmail.com for more information. Taking part in a clinical trial is a big decision. When you contact them, they will provide you with information about the trial. The benefits and the risks. They will have a dedicated person who will answer any questions or concerns, and you will never be obliged to continue. The first step is learning about the trial an whether it is right for you.
Number 2
Kathryn Thomson, a researcher at Cardiff University is exploring the psychological impact of HS on people and their life partners. She is seeking couples in a relationship where one member has HS. You need to be over 18 and speak English to participate.
Participants in the study will be interviewed by Kathryn. The interviews should not last more than 60 minutes each, and Kathryn will use video chat to interview you.
If you are interested in participating or have any questions about the study, please contact the lead researcher, Kathryn Thomson (Trainee Clinical Psychologist) at thomsonk5@cardiff.ac.uk
How can you learn more?
We recommend contacting the researchers directly for information on the trials themselves. But if you want to talk to other people with HS about clinical trials, you can join the HS Ireland Facebook Group here Hidradenitis Suppurativa Ireland | Facebook and learn from others shared experiences.
