Priorities for research

arc supports research into several disorders and conditions.

Its research spans the spectrum from fundamental research into the healthy functioning of the musculoskeletal system into an understanding of the causes and consequences of disorders that affect this through to the development and testing of new markers for disease presence or outcome
It has a specific interest in the development, at all stages, and the testing of new therapies and management strategies both for individuals and health care systems

Given this wide scope and that the resultant demand is much greater than arc’s available resources then the funding decisions will be based on the following priorities:

Health impact of disorder

Funding is preferentially directed towards those musculoskeletal disease areas that have the greatest impact on both society and individuals
Impact is considered both in terms of the numbers of sufferers and also the severity and consequences of a particular disorder

Health impact of research

Funding is preferentially directed towards research that has the potential for the greatest impact on the target disorder in terms of reducing its incidence or severity
arc accepts that research leading to acquisition of knowledge may have an important impact in the future but the immediate gains to health are less certain. Such research also forms a key part of its overall portfolio

Tractability

Funding is preferentially directed towards research that has the greatest chance of answering the questions posed
arc accepts that it may be easier to make progress with rare disorders than with common ones

Consumer involvement

Issues of the potential health impact of research into a disorder are within the competence of informed members of lay public, including affected individuals and their families to assess
Further, although the tractability of research and its consequences in terms of health benefit require professional judgement, informed lay individuals can also utilise such information to guide priorities in research
arc is committed to maximising the role of such consumers in establishing its research priorities in a constructive manner

Other funders

Whereas arc is likely to remain the dominant funder of musculoskeletal research for the foreseeable future, arc is only one of a number of funders of research in its area of interest. arc will work with other funders ranging from small charities which support a single or group of related musculoskeletal disorders to larger national funders such as the UK Research Councils, the NHS and the Wellcome Trust.

arc recognises that particularly for rarer disorders, single disease charities aim to ensure a research focus that otherwise might not exist
arc is committed to achieving its research goals in all areas of its interest and aims to work collaboratively with other charities where research interests overlap

The major national funders such as the government funded Research Councils, particularly (but not exclusively) the Medical Research Council, the NHS through to the National Institute for Health Research and large organisations such as the Wellcome Trust contribute and will continue to contribute to the overall level of research funding in arc’s areas of interest. arc supports the maximum use of funds from such organisations being directed towards achieving its goals. In addition it is noted that: