Blister test reveals sex differences in inflammation healing

NCT ID NCT05597098

Ongoing Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Queen Mary University of London Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jul 17, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This early-phase study at Queen Mary University of London aims to understand why men and women respond differently to inflammation, which may affect heart disease risk. Researchers will apply a small amount of cantharidin (a blister-inducing chemical) to the skin of 34 healthy volunteers aged 18-45. They will then compare blister size, fluid, and immune cells between sexes over 24-72 hours to see if women resolve inflammation faster.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Cantharidin (a blister-inducing solution)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could help explain why men and women have different rates of heart disease, pointing toward sex-specific treatments for inflammation.
What could go wrong: This is a very early, small study (34 people) in healthy volunteers, not patients. It only measures blisters, not real disease outcomes, so results may not apply to actual illness.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Inflammation inflammatory disease

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

INFLAMMATION

Contacts and locations

Locations

The William Harvey Research Institute

London, EC1M 6BQ, United Kingdom

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