Osteoarthritis Treatments Research Consortium

Application form open: Anticipated June 2026
Deadline: 16:00 Wednesday 23rd September 2026
Costs: Up to £3 million
Duration: Up to 60 months
Funding Decision: March 2027
Contact: awards@arthritis-uk.org

Coming soon: A recorded presentation will be added here, providing information about developing and managing a theory of change delivery framework for applications to this call.

Focus

Arthritis UK consortium funding aims to bring different groups together to work with integrated thought and ambition. Creating a community of shared expertise, to deliver a cohesive series of research packages that work towards unlocking a problem area at pace.

This second osteoarthritis research consortium investment is focussed on the development of disease and symptom modifying pharmacotherapeutic osteoarthritis treatments.

What are we looking for?

In summary this funding call will support:

  • Development of a distributed portfolio of multiple already identified potential treatments with different targets and mechanisms of action, at different stages of development
  • Building a strong UK osteoarthritis translational research community, able to deliver rapid pharmacotherapeutic research progress

Areas of focus include, but are not restricted to, support for:

  • Development of small molecules, biologics (antibodies, peptides, proteins), advanced therapeutics (DNA and RNA gene therapy, cell-based therapy), regenerative medicine approaches
  • Repurposing of existing medicines or adoption of underdeveloped “on-the-shelf” assets with established safety profiles and indications of potential efficacy in osteoarthritis
  • For novel approaches: pathway progression - hit evaluation, human target engagement, lead identification, refinement and optimisation to candidate nomination
  • For repurposed entities: generation of initial efficacy and safety data in the targeted patient population
  • Testing and confirming developmental approaches that have no prospects, broadcasting these widely, and halting activities where necessary

Details of the first osteoarthritis consortium are available here: Pioneering study sets out to answer why osteoarthritis impacts patients differently

Who can apply?

  • The lead applicant must be based at an eligible UK institution.
  • One applicant must have a substantive position at the host (lead) institute.

The Consortium leadership should adopt a team science approach. However, financial and administrative system limitations require there to be a defined Consortium Lead and administrative point of reference. Individuals are not allowed to Lead more than one Consortium, but can be members of multiple Consortia. 

International members bringing expertise or facilities that are not available in the UK are welcomed.

What you can apply for?

  • Costs for salaries, consumables, expenses and small items of essential equipment can be requested.
  • Awards of up to 60 months duration, up to £3 million.

If necessary, a proportion of Consortia funds (around 10%, ~£300,000) can be marked to support the associated costs of core activities.

We plan to invest up to £3 million in a single award.

How to apply

There is a single-stage application process, with a Notice of Intention to Apply step.

Please submit a Notice of Intent to Apply by 16:00 on Wednesday 5th August 2026.

This should be an email to awards@arthritis-uk.org with a PDF document outlining:

  • summary of the proposed consortium in plain English (500 words)
  • a list of anticipated consortium members (name, institution and role)

You should not wait for an invitation to submit an application in our Grant Management System.

  • Details of additional Consortium members added after submission of the Notice of Intent to Apply should be sent to the office by email immediately.

Applicants must carefully read the Call document (PDF 281 KB), the application form and guidance document (anticipated June 2026) before starting an application.

Please ensure that the most appropriate language is being used in each section of the form and that the correct sections are completed.

The deadline for the receipt of applications is 16:00 on Wednesday 23rd September 2026. Please allow time for management of appropriate reviewers and signatories to access the grant management system and provide their approvals. Submissions after 16:00 will not be accepted.

If you have any questions about the call, please email: awards@arthritis-uk.org