Musculoskeletal pain disorders CSG

Overview

The Musculoskeletal Pain CSG, formed by arc, will support and develop a comprehensive portfolio of clinical studies directed towards and including clinical trials in all areas of musculoskeletal pain across the UK. It will advise arc in defining research priorities in musculoskeletal pain for their support and adoption. Professor Elaine Hay is the chair of the musculoskeletal pain disorders CSG.

Priority setting process

The Musculoskeletal Pain CSG would like input from researchers on what the priorities for its research should be. For further information on this initiative please click here.

Responsibilities

The CSG will bring together the expertise and enthusiasm necessary to establish an authoritative voice in the musculoskeletal pain research community directed towards clinical trials and related studies.

The CSG will have two main responsibilities:

  • Reactive and Proactive - to support and develop a portfolio of clinical studies directed towards and including clinical trials in all areas of musculoskeletal pain across the UK
  • Advisory - to advise arc in defining research priorities in musculoskeletal pain for their support, submission for external funding and subsequent adoption to run through the CLRN

The remit of the CSG and its members is to:

  • Be responsible for developing and overseeing a comprehensive portfolio/strategy for clinical trials and related studies covering the spectrum of major disease areas in musculoskeletal pain
  • Propose and support the development of protocols for trials and related studies. These protocols where relevant will include the design of pilot and feasibility studies to provide proof of concept for definitive studies in terms of recruitment, data collection etc. The CSG will proactively advertise submissions of protocols needed to satisfy these goals, to be done in collaboration with the CSG
  • Review trial and related study protocols proposed by others (including industry proposals), to advise the CLRN and arc how they may fit into the CSG portfolio/strategy and how the protocol could be assisted in its development
  • Provide robust scientific evaluation, expert advice and support to investigators
  • Ensure consumer involvement in all activities
  • Work in close collaboration with other CLRN and arc CSGs
  • Consider research “add-ons” to established protocols (e.g. pharmacogenetics and qualitative studies)
  • Provide regular reports to the CLRN and arc of its work and recommendations
  • Support the development of partnerships with other research funders (e.g. NIHR, MRC, Welcome, other AMRC funders) and industry in developing a comprehensive research programme in musculoskeletal pain
  • Uphold the highest standards of Research Governance and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) throughout its portfolio according to ICH-GCP guidelines, EU Directives on Clinical Trials and GCP, and UK law
  • CSG members with specific or general expertise may be asked to evaluate proposed trials from the pharmaceutical industry via the commercial trials adoption process under development with UKCRN. Evaluation will include relevance to the NHS and the important unmet needs of child health, statistical validity (at the level of an experienced clinical trialist) and feasibility. These evaluations will need to be undertaken as a matter of priority

For further details on how the arc Musculoskeletal pain disorders portfolio will be developed please click here.

Meetings of CSG

  • CSG Meetings - The CSG will hold approximately two meetings per year along with regular teleconferences.
    • Please click here for the minutes of the meeting held in May 2008
    • Minutes from recent teleconferences are available below:
Teleconference Minutes

 

CSG Email Discussion Forum - Members of the CSG will ensure participation in regular CSG Email Discussion Forums set up to facilitate progress of the CSG’s research agenda, development of specific projects, and fulfilling the CSG’s Remit

Funding of CSG meetings

  • The CSG will funds travel costs (second class rail or equivalent) for CSG meetings (members or their deputies)

Membership and remit

Members will sit on the group for 3-5 years. The current members of the CSG can be viewed here.

Advisory members

A number of members can be appointed in an advisory capacity on a regular or an ad hoc basis depending on the needs of the CSG and related topic-specific subgroups.

Consumer representation

The CSG will involve consumers in all aspects of its work. Process for this to be discussed.

Podiatry research consensus meeting

The CSG recently held a meeting to develop, through consensus, a prioritised list of research related to musculoskeletal foot and ankle pain and podiatry. Please click here to view the report from this meeting. To view the presentation summarising the meeting please click here.

Contact details

For all enquiries and additional information, please contact: Professor Elaine Hay, chair of the musculoskeletal pain disorders CSG or the administrator Ms Claire Ashmore.