News

New BOA clinical trials partnership announcement!

Developing clinical research infrastructure in T&O surgery across the UK is an endeavour that goes hand in hand with the BOA mission – Caring for patients, supporting surgeons. After six successful years working with the British Orthopaedic Association Surgical Research Centre in York, the BOA was keen to expand this project further. Following a competitive process, with bids from numerous academic centres throughout the UK, the BOA is delighted to announce that grants have been awarded to two centres: Exeter Clinical Trials Unit and Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit.

Below you can find out a little more about each clinical trials unit (CTU) and their exciting plans for the next three years.

Exeter CTU

Exeter CTU works in partnership with researchers and clinicians across the trial lifecycle: refining research questions, optimising study design, developing funding applications, trial set-up and delivery, analysis, write up and dissemination.

Over the coming three years, their plan is to identify and develop new and existing T&O researchers, developing new and innovative trials that deliver answers to complex clinical questions. In particular, they plan to provide wrap around development of orthopaedic researchers by:

• Finding, networking and developing people and ideas

• Providing targeted and specific training

• Providing an expert team for strategic T&O study development, design and delivery through an experienced,

UKCRC-registered clinical trials unit

• Mentoring and partnering

• Building a sustainable pipeline of success

Professor Sallie Lamb, Associate Dean for Research in the College of Medicine and Health at University of Exeter

Exeter CTU is delighted to have been awarded this funding from the BOA. We will be working in partnership with the BOA to provide methodological support and collaboration to T&O researchers across the UK. This includes the development of ambitious young investigators, with online training and ongoing mentoring, in the design and delivery of efficient trials to answer important research questions from patients and professionals in the T&O community.

Nottingham CTU

NCTU designs and conducts high quality, high impact national and international multicentre trials across a range of health topics to improve health and wellbeing. For this initiative, NCTU plans to develop clinical trials in trauma and orthopaedics, focussing on engagement and training, including:

• Sandpit events and research co-production workshops

• Increasing trainee involvement through the NIHR Associate PI scheme

• Strengthening patient and public involvement and engagement in T&O surgical research

• Research methods CPD short courses and training webinars

They will work with other CTUs conducting T&O surgical research to develop a comprehensive approach to supporting research that maximises coverage and minimises duplication.

The BOA is very grateful to the BOA members, patients and members of the public who have donated or fundraised for Joint Action (the BOA Orthopaedic Research Appeal), which has allowed this funding to happen. For more information on Joint Action, and how to donate, see page 18.

Professor Alan Montgomery, Director NCTU

Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit is delighted to partner with the BOA to further develop clinical trials research in trauma and orthopaedic surgery. We are excited to be combining our expertise in clinical trial design, development and delivery, with the enthusiasm and experience of T&O clinical researchers in the UK. This initiative will enable us to work closely together to tackle the major T&O research questions that impact on patients and the NHS.

Joint Action update

We would like to thank every single person that took part in the Captain Tom 100 challenge between Friday 30th April and Monday 3rd May 2021, celebrating Captain Tom Moore’s birthday and raising the much needed funds for Joint Action, the Orthopaedic Research Appeal of the BOA, www.boa.ac.uk/joint-action.

While much of the world’s attention has been focused on the disease COVID-19, the needs of people with musculoskeletal disease have not gone away and sadly in many cases the need has grown. We know that thousands of people across the UK have experienced long waits for surgery and cancellations of other medical appointments. The BOA has continued to focus on the needs of these patients, and Joint Action, its research appeal, is forging ahead with ambitious plans for 2021.

We are pleased to announce that from 1st June 2021 the BOA is funding two new Clinical Trials Units, at University of Exeter and University of Nottingham see page 16 for further information.

Four months to go! Taking place Sunday 3rd October 2021, support our Virgin Money London Marathon runners by donating to Joint Action online, www.virginmoneygiving.com/ fund/JAlondonmarathon.