Arthritis News

ORUK to co-host MSK Innovation Forum

Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK) and the National Institute of for Health and Care Research (NIHR) are co- hosting an online MSK Innovation Forum on 19^th July 2024, that will bring together clinicians, engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs to discuss the MSK innovation challenge.

During the forum the NIHR will present the results of a horizon scan identifying emerging MSK medical and digital health and care technologies from around the world. The event will also feature innovation case studies and the opportunity to share best practices and discuss challenges facing MSK innovators.…

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ORUK Launches AI in MSK Education series

ORUK is hosting the first in a series of educational workshops covering the effective application of AI to MSK health. The online workshop AI ethics, consent and data fairness, which is co-sponsored by Information Governance Services, will take place from 9-11am on Friday 5th July. It will cover a range of ethical issues relevant to the use of AI in treatment and research in both the context of musculoskeletal health in particular, and healthcare in general.

The event is free, but participants must register in advance.…

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Versus Arthritis UK General Election Manifesto

Please read, support and share the Versus Arthritis 2024 General Election Manifesto calling on the next UK Government to take arthritis seriously.

For too long, arthritis has been dismissed and ignored, but with your help Versus Arthritis can start to change that. Arthritis impacts the lives of over 10 million people in the UK. It can impact a person’s ability to work, look after family or live well. Arthritis must no longer be dismissed by people in positions of power.

The Versus Arthritis manifesto is based on 5 key priorities for the next UK Government, which are:

Each of these five priorities has three specific key deliverables which we believe will make a significant difference to the lives of people living with arthritis.…

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New ORUK Research Funding Opportunities

Orthopaedic Research (ORUK) is one of the most significant funders of orthopaedic and MSK research in the UK. MSK researchers should check out these latest funding opportunities from ORUK.

Early Career Research fellowship: Up to £55K for 1 year or £110K across 2 years is available to support the brightest and best clinical/nonclinical talents interested in advancing MSK research in the UK. Application deadline: 24th June for initial expression of interest.

Furlong Fund: Investment of up to £100K in startups and supporting entrepreneurs accelerate innovative and commercially viable ideas to solve the unmet needs of society around bone, joint and muscle wellbeing.…

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The Arthritis Revolution in Cheltenham

Gloucestershire Arthritis Trust (GAT) is part of the “Arthritis Revolution” in Cheltenham.

Welcome to the “Arthritis Revolution” that is happening in patient care at Cheltenham General Hospital. The revolutionary approach is aimed at getting between 800 and 1,000 patients a year home much quicker after hip or knee replacement surgery.

Challenged by NHS England in mid-2023 to reduce the Length of Stay for knee and hip replacement surgery from an average of more than 100 hours to a new target of 65 hours, a multidisciplinary team from 13 medical disciplines managed to achieve an average, for all patients, of just 31 hours.…

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Free online peer support

The National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS) run free online monthly meetups, where people with axial SpA can meet others with the same condition to share advice and get support.

The topics vary each month and focus on practical ways to support self-management, alongside medical care. The meetups are part of the ‘Your SpAce’ programme and healthcare professionals can order free promotional materials to easily signpost their patients.

Bridging the Gap Report

We Are Undefeatable has launched the report from Big Talk, a public consultation which went live last year. Read more about their report "Bridging the gap: understanding how to support people with long term health conditions to become more physically active".

The report covers:

The motivators and barriers that people living with long term health conditions face being active
Why the NHS is only a starting point for people with health conditions to become more active
How the ‘empathy gap’ may be hindering support for people with health conditions
The pivotal role that health charities can and must play in supporting physical activity
What friends, families and professionals need to feel more confident encouraging physical activity
Why local leadership and coordination is a critical enabler
The views of professionals across a range of sectors

The report outlines the actions We Are Undefeatable is already taking in response to these insights.…

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New National Clinical Director

NHS England has appointed Dr Lesley Kay as the National Clinical Director (NCD) for Musculoskeletal.

Lesley brings a wealth of experience to the NCD role as a Consultant rheumatologist at the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS FT, former Chair of the British Society for Rheumatology Clinical Affairs Committee and as the former GIRFT Clinical Lead for Rheumatology.

Outgoing NCD Andy Bennett will be taking on a new role with GIRFT as Clinical Advisor focussing on community MSK services.

We wish them both the very best of luck and look forward to continuing to work with them closely in their new roles.

Financial Boost for MSK Early Career Researchers

Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK) has received an award of over £750,000 from the Government to support its research programme. This funding will enable the charity to increase support for early-career clinical researchers and academic scientists interested in building and expanding their MSK research portfolio.

ORUK supports early-career researchers working on a wide range of MSK-related research projects across the UK and has invested £13.59m in the past two decades on research projects that expand knowledge, improve patient outcomes and pioneer new forms of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management.…

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Promoting MSK Literacy in Young People

This month sees the latest tour of a musculoskeletal themed educational show, co-funded by Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK), that introduces young people to biomechanics and the importance of bone, joint and muscle health. The Research and Test Lab (RATLab) tour uses a combination of science, hi-tech projections and puppetry devised by theatre company Green Ginger. During a visit to RATLab, children interact with a team of engaging characters – mostly rats, dogs and pigs – who use engineering to solve everyday problems.…

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