Advancing PSC Research: New Funding Awards for 2025
Mission 2030
Advancing PSC Research: New Funding Awards for 2025
PSC Support is delighted to announce the funding of two new research projects dedicated to improving our understanding of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). These projects are now underway, representing a significant milestone in our Mission 2030 research goals.
Our total Mission 2030 research funding now stands at £852,588. This investment remains focused on our core strategic priorities: unlocking understanding and accelerating treatment development.
Dr Pedro Rodrigues
PSC Support has awarded £30,000 to Dr Pedro Rodrigues and Prof. Jesús M Bañales from the Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute in San Sebastián, Spain.
Finding bile duct cancer (CCA) early is a major challenge because current routine tests are unable to reliably detect it early. Dr Rodrigues' previous work with Professor Jesús Bañales developed a new, non-invasive test that uses small molecules in the body to spot signs of CCA much earlier.
Dr Rodrigues now aims to prove this test works reliably across a global group of patients. The goal is to create a simple blood test ('liquid biopsy'). This would allow doctors to better understand a person’s risk, detect cancer sooner, and tailor treatment. Ultimately, this work aims to help people with PSC live longer, healthier lives.
Dr Edward Jarman
PSC Support has awarded £49,928 to Dr Edward Jarman to investigate the mechanisms through which PSC promotes risk of bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma, or CCA). He aims to identify specific cell populations within the liver that they believe are particularly prone to changing and becoming high risk for cancer due to inflammation.
Dr Jarman will use a technology called spatial transcriptomics to zoom in on this population of cells (which express a protein called COX2) in tissue from people with PSC and understand exactly how these cells react to PSC inflammation.
Dr Jarman will use animal models to functionally verify whether COX2 is involved in these changes and whether its actions can be reduced or turned off, and if this can reduce the cancer risk. He hopes that this research will inform future strategies for targeted cancer prevention in people with PSC.
More research we've funded:
Turning Ambition into Action in 2026:
Our Fortnight in Focus
At PSC Support, we want a world without PSC. We work tirelessly behind the scenes to drive research and improve lives. Here is a snapshot of what we've been up to:
Building Partnerships: We contributed a comprehensive chapter to a new medical textbook for nurses and allied health professionals, ensuring that the patient perspective is integrated into clinical education.
Building Partnerships: We participated in a planning meeting for the update of national clinical guidelines for PSC.
Building Partnerships: We prepared strategic questions for an upcoming international forum titled “Putting Patients First: From Research to Treatment.”
Organisational Excellence: We updated our web details to make it less likely information from us sent by email ends up in your spam folders.
Progressing Research: We are collaborating with European partners to develop a simplified research registry for pregnancy outcomes, building the evidence base needed to improve medical guidance for women with PSC.
Progressing Research: We completed a formal submission to the Scottish Medicines Consortium to advocate for the value of a potential new treatment for PSC patients.
Progressing Research: We reviewed the participant information for a new academic clinical trial to ensure it is clear and accessible for patients.