Arthritis UK Winter Appeal

Meet the researchers at the forefront of chronic pain research

To someone living with the pain of arthritis, the idea of switching it off may sound far-fetched. But right now, teams of researchers are working tirelessly to do just that – and they’re already seeing exciting results.

Professor Simon Jones is investigating whether we can switch off the root cause of pain. He's leading a team of researchers at the University of Birmingham whose aim is to develop a new targeted treatment with the power to bring long-lasting pain relief for people
with osteoarthritis. This approach could revolutionise how we treat pain, not just for people with osteoarthritis, but for everyone living with chronic pain.

Arthritis pain is complex. It’s different for every person. Often impossible to predict. And current treatments don’t work for everyone. In fact, 60% of people living with arthritis are in pain most or all of the time. 

That’s why finding new, more personalised ways to switch off pain takes many talented researchers working together, years of dedicated study, and the generous support of people like you.

Professor Simon Jones explains:

“As a project lead as part of the Advanced Pain Discovery Platform (APDP), I led a group of researchers that asked whether changes within a type of cell found in the joint lining (called a ‘fibroblast’) could be linked to pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. What we found was remarkable.

In the specific areas of the knee joint where people with osteoarthritis reported pain, fibroblasts were producing higher levels of proteins linked to inflammation and pain.

My team is now developing an innovative approach, which aims to switch off the genes responsible for producing those proteins. But that’s not all. We want to make sure we deliver the treatment directly to where it’s needed, reducing the risk of side effects. So we’re using a specific molecule (a receptor) found in high numbers on the surface of those fibroblasts as a way to target those cells specifically.”

The Advanced Pain Discovery Platform (APDP)

In 2019, we committed to co-funding the Advanced Pain Discovery Platform (APDP) – a cross-industry initiative bringing together experts from several research fields to break through the complexity of pain.

The platform was the biggest single investment in pain research in the UK’s history, marking a turning point in our understanding. And now it’s time to translate those learnings into real-world treatments.

Your support can help make sure that all this incredible work continues, paving the way towards treatments that could transform the lives of people living with arthritis.

Please donate today and help us fund the next stage of this life-changing research to switch off arthritis pain.