In June 2009 NASS gave a grant of £15,000 for a DPhil student, David Harvey, to conduct genetic research at the University of Oxford into the role of ERAP1 in AS.
His work has been of fundamental importance to the understanding of one of the genetic reasons that some people become genetically predisposed to develop AS. He was able to confirm an association between predisposition to AS and variation in a gene known as ERAP1. He was able to manufacture large amounts of this protein in the laboratory and investigate its chemical structure and functions.
The results of David's work show us that different forms of ERAP1 work more or less efficiently in conjunction with HLA-B27 to stimulate immune responses and inflammation.
Most excitingly, from the research it has been possible to identify chemicals that can bind to ERAP1 which have the capacity to reduce its function in a way that could be potentially useful as a drug treatment for AS.