Discover our workstreams
We specialise in the development of exploratory protocols, biomarkers discovery and in understanding the pathophysiology and disease mechanisms in a range of inflammatory and rheumatoid disorders.
We regularly review areas of unmet clinical need to determine emerging topics that could become a focus for the MSK TRC. We are keen to hear from other MSK disciplines that are not listed as a workstream. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us.
The NIHR-Versus Arthritis UK MSK-TRC is currently developing UK-wide collaborative research programmes in several thematic areas of musculoskeletal research and medicine.
Patient and public involvement and engagement, and the life-course approach are cross-cutting and embedded within the activities of the workstreams.
The workstreams are:
- Inflammatory Arthritis (IA) Continuum , with 4 sub themes:
i. Innovative trial design - Prof. James Watson (Newcastle)
ii. At risk - Dr Arthur Pratt (Newcastle) and Dr Kulver Mankia (Leeds)
iii. Refractory inflammatory arthritis - Prof. Maya H Buch (Manchester)
iv. Seronegative IA - Prof. Stefan Siebert (Glasgow)
Prof. Francesco DelGaldo (Leeds), Dr John Reynolds, (Birmingham) and Dr Faye Cooles (Newcastle)
- Glucocorticoid Minimisation
Prof. Ann Morgan (Leeds)
- Onco-Rheumatology, with 2 sub-themes:
Checkpoint inhibitor and immune-related adverse events - Prof. Ben Fisher (Birmingham)
Cancer and autoimmunity - Prof. Hector Chinoy (Manchester) and Dr. Alex Oldroyd (Manchester) - Common Musculoskeletal Conditions
Dr. Fiona Watt (Imperial College London) and Prof. Andrew McCaskie (Cambridge)
In addition, the following areas cut across the 5 workstreams:
- Pain - Prof. David Walsh (Nottingham) and Prof. Nidhi Sofat (St Georges)
- Methodology workstreams, with 3 sub themes
- Innovative trial design - Prof. James Wason (Newcastle)
- Biomarker methods-analysis - Prof. Andrew Filer (Birmingham)
- Data harmonisation (real world data) - Prof. Pedro Machado (UCL) and Saskia Lawson-Tovey (Manchester)