A team from Newcastle University said the treatment involves cells being taken from the patient before being altered and injected back into the affected joint. The process changes human cells to suppress rather than activate the immune system.
This would stop the body from attacking its own joints. The vaccine will be tested for its effectiveness in eight volunteers in a pilot study. If successful, there will be larger clinical trials.
The Arthritis Research Campaign, which is funding the project, says the vaccine will be "revolutionary" if successful and could be available within five years.
Rheumatoid arthritis is difficult to treat because it is caused by a malfunctioning immune system, causing inflammation in the wrong places. Although there is no cure for the disease, new drugs have been developed.
