Years ago.
Progress was afoot in the project on Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Zhao Yi had put together a conventional research plan into the connection between streptococcal infection and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
The medical field had not yet determined the exact mechanisms of Rheumatoid Arthritis - that is to say how it is triggered. Utilizing a wealth of patient data, they were able to identify common elements of streptococcal infections. In plain terms, many Rheumatoid Arthritis patients had prior histories of streptococcal infection or carried antibodies of the streptococcal bacteria in their bodies.
Zhao Yi's early research began with the exploration of streptococcal infections, investigating the commonalities between different pathogenic changes induced by the bacteria.
After conducting experiments on lab mice, they identified the commonalities within the blood.