Participate in a Study

There are several trials under way at Seattle Cancer Alliance for autoimmune diseases. Current trials are open for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, including one being conducted by Dr. Ann Woolfrey who is looking at high-dose immunoablative therapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (bone-marrow transplant) for the treatment of refractory autoimmune disorders, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

The primary goal is to determine whether destroying the immune system followed by rescue with purified autologous stem cells could result in restoring the immune system without the recurrence of the disease. Patients eligible include children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, or dermatomyositis.  Learn more about this trial on the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Clinical Trials site.

Patients who participate in clinical trials have the first chance to benefit from treatments that have shown promise in earlier research. They also make an important contribution to medical science by helping doctors learn more about the disease. Although clinical trials may pose some risk, researchers take careful steps to protect people who take part. For more information on clinical trials, a patient should talk to his or her doctor.

Clinical trials come in four phases. In Phase I trials, investigators are trying to determine the most effective and safe dosage. In Phase II trials, which involve a larger group of patients, researchers try to establish the response rates, response durations and determine what side effects will occur. Phase III trials compare the experimental treatment with the standard treatment. Phase IV trials monitor the effects of long-term usage.

Read about more clinical trials on the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Clinical Trials site.