Arthritis UK Pain Centre

Understanding the biology of osteoarthritis pain

This centre, based at the University of Nottingham, brings together healthcare professionals and research scientists from different fields to better understand the mechanisms of pain in arthritis.

Research at this centre aims to better understand the biological basis of pain in osteoarthritis, to develop new drugs to treat pain more effectively and use a more targeted treatment approach for individuals.

Alongside this research, the centre is investigating the basic pathways of pain perception and the changes in the tissues caused by arthritis to identify new targets for developing treatments. This research should help us to develop clinical trials which address the major concerns of people with arthritis pain.

This centre first opened in 2010 and renewed for a second term of five years in 2015. It is in its ‘Impact’ phase until 2027.

Biomechanics and Bioengineering Research Centre

Arthritis UK Biomechanics and Bioengineering Research Centre Impact Report

For many years, we’ve known that mechanical loading and inflammation contribute to osteoarthritis but the biological processes that link these factors were unknown. The impact of joint injury and joint surgery on our biomechanics and biology, and subtleties in gait or alignment that could contribute to long-term disease, was also unclear. Until now.

Read the report