Ep.277 "Progress Towards Identifying a Psoriatic Arthritis Diagnostic Test"

Description:

“When joint pain is present, the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis needs to be made as soon as possible, ideally within six months to limit joint inflammation” Dr. Vinod Chandran mentions as he discusses efforts to identify a diagnostic test for those at risk of developing psoriatic arthritis.         

Join host Jeff Brown as he speaks with leading rheumatologist and clinician scientist Dr. Vinod Chandran, Director of the Gladman Krembil Psoriatic Arthritis Program, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network and the Departments of Medicine, Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, and the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto to learn more about the progress and promising results towards developing a psoriatic arthritis diagnostic test through multi-omic assays and identifying the distinct differences between psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. 

This episode provides an update on the progress to date of the NPF PsA Diagnostic Test grant initiative which has shown promising results with a potential test entering prospective study in multiple sites soon. 

 Thank you to Johnson and Johnson for their support of this program activity.

Timestamps:

(0:00)          Intro to Psoriasis Uncovered & guest welcome rheumatologist Dr. Vinod Chandran. 

  (0:52)          It is challenging to diagnose psoriatic arthritis with many factors leading to a delay in diagnosis.

(4:56)          The start of Dr. Chandran’s involvement with the PsA Diagnostic Test Grant project.  

(7:55)          The different types of omics and the definition of multi-omic.

(9:57)          How the multi-omic approach is used to find biomarkers relative to a specific disease pattern.

(11:08)        Development of a predictive or prevention-based test using gene expression.     

(13:46)        First year results identify 200 markers across different omic approaches that distinguish psoriatic arthritis from psoriasis. 

  (14:58)        The significance of MRNA vs mIcroRNA’s use in development of a diagnostic test and how critical that is to dissemination of a                     potential test.

(17:08)        Identifying the skin-joint axis in relation to different types of arthritis.

(20:20)        Next steps to moving the diagnostic test research forward as a prospective study in multiple sites and the cost effectiveness of                  delivering the test.

  (23:13)        If you have psoriasis, musculoskeletal, back, and joint pain think of psoriatic arthritis and be diagnosed early to maintain a good                 quality of life.

Key Takeaways:

·       Given challenges associated with diagnosing psoriatic arthritis and the impact on quality of life, in 2019 NPF launched the PsA Diagnostic Test Grant project with the goal of developing an early stage test that would identify and diagnose those with psoriatic arthritis before debilitating  joint damage begins.  

·       Progress towards a PsA Diagnostic Test includes the study of multi-omic data sets where 200 distinct biomarkers have been identified leading to a greater understanding of the different pathways between psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, and the skin joint axis. 

·       A potential diagnostic test is now moving towards the prospective study phase. Until the test is available and if joint pain is present and you have psoriasis, ask your health care provider if it could be psoriatic arthritis and treat appropriately. 

Guest Bio:

Vinod Chandran, MBBS, MD, DM, PhD is a rheumatologist, clinician scientist, and Director of the Gladman Krembil Psoriatic Arthritis Program, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network and the Departments of Medicine, Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, and the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto where he is also a Professor of Medicine. His specialties include internal medicine, immunology, rheumatology, and genetic epidemiology. His research focus is on the development of biomarker-based strategies to improve early diagnosis and prognosis of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, identification of new treatment targets especially for those who do not respond to current therapies, and strategies to reduce the impact of disease. Dr. Chandran is a Co-Vice President of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis or GRAPPA. He is an active collaborator in a multi-center research consortia such as the International Psoriasis and Arthritis Research Team and the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada. Dr. Chandran is the recipient of research funding from the National Psoriasis Foundation for his work in identifying a “Multi-omic Diagnostic Test for PsA in Psoriasis Patients”.

Resources:

“Understanding the NPF Psoriatic Arthritis Diagnostic Test Grant Outcomes” Advance Online. February 18, 2026. 

“Managing Chronic Pain with Psoriatic Arthritis” Psoriasis Uncovered podcast episode with physiatrist Dr. Erin Maslowski, LB Herbert who lives with psoriatic disease, and moderator Susan McClelland-Tobert, a retired pediatric cardiologist who also lives with psoriatic disease.

Glossary of terms:

mRNA: Messenger RNA carries protein information or instructions from the DNA in a cell’s nucleus to the cell’s interior where the sequence is read and translated into corresponding amino acids for growing protein chains.

Micro-RNA (miRNA):  Micro-RNA act as the regulator. They are short and bind to specific target mRNA’s to degrade or inhibit production of protein.