AutoCure - Curing autoimmune rheumatic diseases

AutoCure's objective was to transform knowledge obtained from molecular research particularly within genomics, into a cure in an increasing number of patients suffering from inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

AutoCure used Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a prototype since this disease offers unique opportunities to define and evaluate new therapies.

About AutoCure

AutoCure was an EU funded research project within the sixth framework programme. 26 partners were involved, of which 6 from industy and 20 from acadeaemia. The project ran for 5 years (from 2006-2011) with a total budget of 11 milion Euro.

CRB's role in AutoCure

In addition to providing an ethics management structure, the Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics will actively work through a specific work-package in order to offer possible solutions to urgent problems estimated to arise in association with the research.

Linus Johnsson (MD) did his PhD within the AutoCure framework, comparing the attitudes to genetic and biobank research as it is revealed in public surveys and in actual decisions made by research subjects. He examined and analyse the frequency of withdrawals to biobank sampling made by sample providers and elaborate the concept of risk related to this kind of research including a critical examination of what constitutes ”dignitary harms”.

Joanna Stjernschantz Forsberg also did part of her PhD within AutoCure, looking at ethical aspects of biobank research, individual rights vs the public good.

Contact at CRB

Mats G. Hansson, Professor of Biomedical Ethics

Professor Lars Klareskog at Karolinska Institutet was co-ordinator of AutoCure.