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Dr Zoë McLaren aims to find out more about the development of childhood lupus, a rare but serious disease that can have a devastating effect on young sufferers - in order to come up with better treatment. A number of factors are known to be important in this condition – genetics, infections, hormones and environmental influences.

Dr McLaren is studying the role of important white blood cells called neutrophils to find out what part they play in the development of lupus. Her research is part of a larger study being conducted by her supervisor Dr Michael Beresford who is setting up a nationwide database of childhood lupus patients, who will provide samples of DNA to be used for research purposes.

“I am very excited that arc has given me the opportunity to study this serious disease,” she says. “So little is known about lupus in children and research into the disease is desperately needed. This study provides a unique opportunity to understand how the developing immune system affects lupus and how this compares to disease in adults.”