My research interests focus on the Epidemiology of Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis. I am based in the Botnar Research Centre, at the University of Oxford with additional sessions at the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit at the University of Southampton.
I lead a large research programme into Osteoarthritis, split between the two university sites, that has several major strands: (a) The risk factors of Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis and lower limb Arthroplasty; (b) Clinical trials in the management of common musculoskeletal conditions; (c) personalised medicine in the treatment of musculoskeletal disease and (d) The role of sport and physical activity in health, especially musculoskeletal health.
It has already provided new Epidemiological insights into Osteoarthritis from the effect of the early environment to treatments for established disease. We have demonstrated, for the first time, that the early environment programs Osteoarthritis and that these environmental factors interact with the genome. I have performed several large multicentre clinical trials to define the benefit of Intra-Articular Therapies in the treatment of Knee OA. I have also been part of EULAR and OARSI working groups to produce new definitions and treatment guidelines for disease.