Osteoarthritis and crystal diseases CSG

Introduction

The Osteoarthritis and crystal diseases clinical studies group (OA-CSG) is chaired by Professor Philip Conaghan.

Steering group

The current membership comprises:

Philip Conaghan (Chair)	Professor of Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Leeds Primary Care Trust
Christine Thomas	Consumer advocate
Paul Dieppe	MRC Senior Clinical Scientist (ERC), Honorary Professor of Musculoskeletal Sciences, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Oxford
Mike Doherty	Professor of Rheumatology, University of Nottingham
George Peat	Senior Lecturer in Clinical Epidemiology, Primary Care Musculoskeletal Research Centre, Keele University
Hamish Simpson	Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery University of Edinburgh

The membership of this committee is not fixed and various members of the OA community will be co-opted at appropriate times, just as sub-committees may be required, for example, to develop a particular study.

Group meetings

The CSG members meet by regular teleconferences and occasional face to face meetings. Minutes of these meetings will appear here when available.

Strategy

The aim of these groups is to develop a nationally agreed strategic plan for intervention research, and to support a portfolio of research aligned to that plan, that will be conducted in collaboration with the UK Comprehensive Clinical Research Network and industry. For further information on these groups please click here.

While there has been a recent revolution in the management of inflammatory arthritis with the introduction of biologic therapies and early aggressive treatment, the same cannot be said of osteoarthritis (OA). OA is the most prevalent form of arthritis, and unlike RA, it is on the rise, in an ageing and increasingly obese Western world. A recent study by Arthritis Care reported that 81% of people with OA experience constant pain and 72% have important co-morbidities, such as hypertension or depression. There are few very effective therapies. Gout remains the commonest inflammatory arthritis in men but despite some effective therapies issues remain concerning diagnosis and optimal management.

What are the current research strategies for OA and gout?

While we are developing more comprehensive national strategies, the OA-CSG has elected to use the following research recommendations as provisional strategies:

Osteoarthritis: we have adopted the research recommendations from the NICE OA Management Guidelines Group – see attached document. The NICE group comprised a wide range of health professionals and consumer representation, with open public feedback. The full NICE OA document is available online.
Gout: we have adopted the recommendations related to diagnosis and management issues from the EULAR Gout Task Force, comprising a large panel of experts in this disease –see attached document. The full reports from this group were published in:
- Zhang et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2006;65:1301-11
- Zhang et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2006;65:1312-24.

How are the new research strategies being formulated?
We are currently undertaking a survey of research priorities for OA and gout from a wide range of health professionals, including colleagues in the fields of obesity, orthotics and psychology. The priorities will be evaluated by a large group of consumers. This project will be completed by the end of 2008.

These research priorities should act as a guide for investigators when seeking funding, not just from arc, but from NIHR and other sources.

How do I submit a proposal?

If you have a concept for an interventional clinical trial in OA or gout that fits our current strategy, then we welcome submission of a 1-2 page expression of interest that outlines your proposal. We will then feedback from the CSG.

Contact details