Future of key musculoskeletal research centre secured
A multi-million pound investment has secured the future of a joint University and NHS research centre specialising in rheumatology, musculoskeletal diseases and joint replacement.
Kadeena Cox cutting the ribbon outside the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre
The research facility at Chapel Allerton Hospital has been recognised as a Biomedical Research Centre by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) – and comes with £7 million of research funding from NIHR.
There are just 20 NIHR Biomedical Research Centres in the UK, and the Leeds team is the only one specialising in musculoskeletal research.
The centre is led by Professor Paul Emery, whose research publications in the field of rheumatology are the most cited in Europe.
At the launch, Professor Emery explained the Centre’s priorities, and how its research would support patients.
He said: “In the future our research will focus on two very important areas, namely preventing autoimmune diseases, with rheumatoid arthritis as the prime example, and improving treatments and outcomes for osteoarthritis. This should improve the lives of millions in the UK and beyond.”
Professor Emery said that, through increased research, academics would develop and evaluate individually targeted, cost-effective therapies which would improve quality of life for musculoskeletal patients.
In the longer term, Professor Emery said the goal was the early diagnosis and prevention of musculoskeletal disease and reduction of risk factors to improve outcomes.
The centre was officially launched by 2016 Paralympics gold medal winner Kadeena Cox MBE.
She said: "It is good to see this life changing research getting the recognition it deserves. The Leeds Biomedical Research Centre is a great asset to my home town of Leeds and will bring discoveries which achieve real long term benefits to patients locally, nationally and across the world.”
Posted in: Research and innovationUniversity news