Our research achievements
Our research has helped us to make life-changing breakthroughs and improve the lives of millions of people with arthritis. Together we've achieved so much, but there is still more to do.
Latest research highlights
Research funded by Arthritis UK led to the development of biologic drugs, which have transformed the treatment of inflammatory arthritis and improved the lives of almost 2 million people worldwide.
New age biologic drugsResearch funded by Arthritis UK led to the development of a new treatment to repair damaged cartilage in early-stage osteoarthritis called Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI), which is now available on the NHS.
Knee cartilage regenerationA clinical trial funded by Arthritis UK provided a new treatment option for uveitis and had a major impact on how young people with JIA receive care, reducing the risk of sight loss and improving their quality of life.
Uveitis eye care
ESCAPE-Pain: exercise to reduce the pain of osteoarthritis
Our research has transformed the care of people with hip and knee osteoarthritis through the development and delivery of a six-week programme of education, exercise and self-management, called ESCAPE-pain. Over 15,000 people have now taken part in this programme, which has been shown to improve quality of life for people with arthritis, whilst also saving the NHS time and money.
Research funded by Arthritis UK showed that early intensive treatment for inflammatory arthritis within 12 weeks of symptom onset, increases the chances of remission and reduces pain and long-term joint damage.
Intensive early treatmentArthritis UK funded a personalised approach to treating back pain, called the STarT Back tool. This new approach enables GPs to quickly and easily group patients according to the treatment likely to work best for them.
STarT Back for back painA clinical trial funded by Arthritis UK showed that treatment with aspirin and heparin significantly reduces miscarriage in women with sticky blood syndrome, enabling hundreds of healthy pregnancies.
Aspirin and heparin treatment
Arthritis UK research centres of excellence
Arthritis UK research centres of excellence bring together leading scientists, clinicians, engineers and healthcare professionals from universities, hospitals and research institutions across the UK to tackle some of the biggest challenges in arthritis and musculoskeletal health.
Is there a link between osteoarthritis and injury?
The Universities of Nottingham, Bath, Loughborough, Leeds, Southampton and Oxford joined forces with Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust to improve our understanding of the relationship between sport, exercise and osteoarthritis.
Our research impact timeline: 90 years of life-changing progress
Our research impact: 90 years of life-changing progress, thanks to the incredible support of people like you. We’ll continue to invest in life-changing research to help people live well, improve treatments and one day, find a cure.
Take part in arthritis research
Research discovers new things and solves problems by searching for the answers to important questions we don’t know the answers to yet.
Find out how you can help to shape the questions we ask, and how we answer them, or how you can take part in the research itself near where you live.