New psoriasis study will tackle physical and psychological needs of patients

(PhysOrg.com) -- A £2 million study has been launched at The University of Manchester aiming to improve the care of people with psoriasis.

The five-year IMPACT Programme (Identification and Management of Psoriasis Associated ComorbidiTy) has received a National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) grant to fund research into the physical and psychological needs of psoriasis patients.

Psoriasis is an incurable skin condition that affects at least 2% of the population and is characterised by red, flaky patches of skin.

Co-investigator Dr Lis Cordingley, who is based in the University’s School of Community-Based Medicine, said: “The award recognises the wide ranging impact that psoriasis and associated co-morbidities has upon the lives of people with this condition”.

World-renowned dermatologist Professor Chris Griffiths, based in the University’s School of Translational Medicine, is leading the research. He said: “Psoriasis can be very distressing for patients and can have a major impact upon their quality of life. Furthermore, it appears that many psoriasis patients may be at increased risk of developing other conditions, including depression and cardiovascular disease.

“The award of this grant will allow us to ascertain the true association between psoriasis and these conditions and will enable us to design community-based services that will be of direct benefit to this overlooked group of people.”

Along with a strong multidisciplinary team of academics and clinicians, patient representatives have been involved in the planning and design of the project. Helen McAteer is Chairman of the Psoriasis Association and co-investigator on the IMPACT project.

She said: “The Psoriasis Association is honoured to be involved with IMPACT. The quality of research relating to psoriasis that has been undertaken in Manchester is recognised on a global level, and has greatly increased understanding of this complex condition in a number of disciplines.”

Volunteers will be recruited from the collaborating NHS primary care and hospital trusts.

A celebration of Manchester’s clinical research in psoriasis was held at The University of Manchester to mark the launch of the project. The series of presentations ranged from basic science to applied research, and gave PhD students a platform alongside more experienced researchers.

Dr Cordingley added: “The event was a great opportunity to showcase the broad range of cutting-edge psoriasis related research taking place in Manchester. We were delighted to be able to share this with an audience of clinicians, academics and Psoriasis Association members.”

Provided by University of Manchester