Introduction

The Wilson's Disease Support Group – UK is grateful to all parties interested in conducting clinical research into Wilson's disease (WD).  If you are a WD patient living in the UK who might like to take part in clinical research or in being interviewed by a Medical Research Company in matters relating to WD, please consider completing and returning the form for the WD Patient Register - UK (see link opposite).  We can then contact you directly to let you know when a suitable study comes to our attention.  Please note that Wilson’s disease patients who have received a liver transplant are also eligible to join the Register and take part in research.  Thank you.

The following is a list of Studies that have come to our attention.

Ongoing:

University of Sheffield, Dept of Neuroscience (SITraN)

This is an ongoing Study in which a team at the University of Sheffield is investigating mitochondrial biomarkers in Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, including Wilson's disease.  If abnormalities are found in mitochondria, there is the possibility of using so-called "mitochondrial rescue" drugs as a treatment. For further information please contact val@wilsonsdisease.org.uk 

Completed:

UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London - The CROWD Study  (Cohort Research On Wilson's Disease) – A UK wide research Study on Wilson's disease

This Study was launched in 2019 and its aims were to see why some Wilson's disease patients develop liver problems and others develop neurological or psychiatric problems. 

iGEM – A Synthetic Biology Project

In 2016, a group of Oxford University students investigating biological techniques in treating rare diseases looked into the possibility of using novel probiotic therapeutics to treat Wilson's disease.  They presented their findings at an iGem jamboree in Boston, USA, and received a gold medal for their innovative work.