New approach to osteoarthritis research announced

A new multi-disciplinary approach to osteoarthritis research in the UK was announced earlier this month with a 1.8 million pound programme comprising three clinical trials involving 300 people with osteoarthritis of the knee and a research team of radiologists, engineers, biomechanics, rheumatologists and physiotherapists.

Based at the Universities of Manchester and Salford in northwest England, the charity Arthritis Research UK is funding the five-year programme, and world expert in osteoarthritis Professor David Felson from Boston is leading it.

About 6 million people in the UK have some form of osteoarthritis, the most common form of joint disease, where cartilage in joints like the knees and hips breaks down resulting in bones rubbing against each other and causing inflammation, pain and eventually structural damage and joint failure.

A statement from Arthritis Research UK describes the new multi-disciplinary programme as an exciting new approach that “could have a significant impact on the way the common joint condition is treated".

The full article can be read at Medical News Today by clicking here.

British Orthopaedic Association and Joint Action are working with Arthritis Research UK (AR UK), looking to develop closer ties with AR UK, ARMA (Arthritis & Musculoskeletal Alliance) and others via the newly created Musculoskeletal Clinical Study Group

Published: 15/07/2010