Professor Bowman’s research has been focused on Sjogren’s Syndrome; specifically on developing clinical tools to support clinical trials in this condition for which there are currently no disease-modifying treatments.
He is currently leading workpackage 8 of the €15.4 million EU funded ‘New Clinical Endpoints in pSS: an interventional trial based on stratifying patients (NECESSITY). 2019-2025’ led by Professor Xavier Mariette (Paris, France).
Professor Bowman led the ARUK funded TRACTISS trial of Rituximab in primary Sjogren’s Syndrome along with Professor Paul Emery and Professor Costantino Pitzalis which was the first UK led trial of a biologic therapy in this condition (published 2017). He has provided advice on trial design to a number of major pharmaceutical companies investigating new therapies for use in Sjogren’s Syndrome for patient benefit. Samples and data from the TRACTISS Trial has continued to generate further research in collaboration with Professor Michele Bombardieri and colleagues at Queen Mary’s University of London and other collaborators internationally.
In collaboration with Professor Wan-Fai Ng of the University of Newcastle, UK, Professor Bowman was involved in the establishment of the MRC funded UK Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome Registry in 2010. and has also been a member of the FOREUM consortium on developing stratified medicine approaches to primary Sjogren’s Syndrome.
He was a leading contributor to the development of the 2016 American College of Rheumatology-European League against Rheumatism revised classification criteria for Sjogren’s Syndrome and to the development of the EULAR Sjogren’s Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) and Patient Reported Outcome (ESSPRI) measures that are in standard use today.
He also worked with Professor David Booth and many UK clinical colleagues prior to that in 2003-2004 to develop the Profile of Fatigue and Discomfort – Sicca Symptoms Inventory (PROFAD-SSI) that was the forerunner of the ESSPRI.