CompletedObservational

Study of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: The TACERA (Towards a Cure for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis) Study

Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that causes painful, swollen joints. Today, doctors cannot easily predict which standard medicines will work best for which person. The TACERA study is an observational study, which means participants receive normal NHS care and no experimental drugs are tested. Researchers are tracking 410 newly diagnosed adults across England and Scotland over 18 months. At regular check-ups, participants will complete health questionnaires and give blood and urine samples, as well as having routine X-rays. The research team will study these samples to look for biological clues. The goal is to build a practical guide or 'toolkit' that helps doctors match each patient with the right treatment straight away. While taking part may not directly change your own care, it could help future patients find relief much faster and achieve long-term remission.

At a glance

Status

Completed

Enrolment target

274

Start

05 Feb 2013

Estimated completion

10 Jul 2015

Rheumatoid arthritis

What is this study about?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition where the body's defence system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints. This leads to inflammation, pain, stiffness, and swelling. Current NHS guidelines offer several effective medications to calm this inflammation and aim for remission, which is when symptoms disappear. However, finding the right drug can often involve a process of trial and error, because a medicine that works well for one person might not work for another.

The TACERA study was created to tackle this challenge. Researchers want to discover biological markers—tiny clues in the blood and urine—that can predict how well someone will respond to standard treatments. By identifying these clues early on, scientists hope to take the guesswork out of prescribing. This would allow doctors to create personalised treatment plans that get disease activity under control much sooner.

Because this is an observational study, your treatment is not being tested or altered by the researchers. Your rheumatology team will still decide on and manage your care using standard UK guidelines. By agreeing to share health data and regular samples, you are helping scientists build an 'immunological toolkit' that could change how early rheumatoid arthritis is treated across the NHS.

Key takeaways

The TACERA study tracks people with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis over 18 months.
It is purely observational, meaning you receive normal NHS care with no experimental medicines.
Researchers will collect blood, urine, and survey data to help match future patients to the best treatments.
Visits occur every three months, alongside standard X-rays at months 0, 12, and 18.
Taking part is completely voluntary and will not affect your standard NHS healthcare.

Who may be eligible?

You may be able to join TACERA if you are 18 or older and have recently been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, with your joint symptoms having started within the last six months. To take part, your routine blood tests must confirm the presence of specific markers linked to the condition, known as rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA).

This study focuses on people right at the start of their treatment journey. Therefore, you cannot take part if you have already started taking disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or biologic medications. You must also not have received steroid treatment (such as steroid tablets or joint injections) for this current flare-up of arthritis.

Finally, people who are pregnant, planning to conceive, or who have other major long-term health conditions—such as severe heart, kidney, or liver disease—are not able to join. Your hospital doctor will review your medical history to make sure taking part is suitable and safe for you.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

I am aged 18 or older.
My joint symptoms began within the last six months.
I have been newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis by a doctor.
I have not yet started disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs) or steroids for this episode.
I am not pregnant and not currently planning to become pregnant.

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you take part, your involvement will last for 18 months. You will continue to receive standard NHS arthritis care from your regular specialist team. You will have clinic visits at the start of the study, and then every three months (months 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18). During these visits, you will fill out questionnaires about your symptoms and daily life, and the team will collect routine blood and urine samples. Each blood test takes about 1.5 to 3 egg cups of blood. You will also have simple X-rays of your joints at the start, at 12 months, and at 18 months to check on your joint health.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part will not change your medical care or cure your condition, but your samples will help researchers improve rheumatoid arthritis treatments for others in the future. Because you are receiving standard NHS medicines, there are no extra drug-related risks. The main inconveniences are the time needed for appointments and the mild discomfort of blood tests, which can sometimes cause brief pain, bruising, or light-headedness. Trained professionals will take all samples to keep you as comfortable as possible. Joining is completely voluntary, and you are free to leave the study at any time without your regular NHS care being affected.

Locations (31)

Birmingham City Hospital
Approximate
Birmingham, England
Cannock Chase Hospital
Approximate
Cannock, England
Chapel Allerton
Approximate
Leeds, England
University Hospital of North Durham
Approximate
Durham, England
Darlington Memorial Hospital
Approximate
Darlington, England
Croydon University Hospital
Unverified
Croydon, England
Doncaster Royal Infirmary
Unverified
Doncaster, England
Freeman Hospital
Unverified
Newcastle upon Tyne, England
The Great Western Hospital
Unverified
Swindon, England
Gartnavel General Hospital
Unverified
Glasgow, Scotland
Glasgow Royal Infirmary
Unverified
Glasgow, Scotland
Guy’s Hospital
Unverified
London, England

Common questions

Will I have to take any new or experimental drugs?

No. This is an observational study. You will only receive standard, approved medications prescribed by your normal NHS rheumatology team.

How much blood will be taken?

At each of the seven visits, the team will take roughly 1.5 to 3 egg cups of blood to run both routine checks and research tests.

Can I leave the study if I change my mind?

Yes. You can leave the study at any point without giving a reason. Your normal medical care will continue as usual.

Does taking part cost anything?

No, taking part is free, and your standard treatment will continue under the NHS as normal.

Will being in the study help my joints get better faster?

Not directly. You will receive the same standard treatment as patients not in the study, but the findings may help doctors treat future patients much more effectively.

How to find out more

Andrew Cope

Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.