Centre for osteoarthritis pathogenesis Versus Arthritis

The move of the Kennedy Institute to Oxford in 2013, catapulted the new Centre into an outstanding musculoskeletal environment with adjacency to the Botnar Research Centre, Target Discovery Institute and Wellcome Trust Genome Centre. We have had a highly productive first term of the Centre; integrating OA research across NDORMS, adding capacity through the creation of new career development fellowships, creating an internationally recognised Centre for OA research and training and identifying a number of important pathways/molecules in disease pathogenesis. In the next term of the grant we will elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which these pathways control disease, in order to devise novel strategies for disease modification. We will build on existing structures to enable patient translation through validation in existing and new patient cohorts and Experimental Medicine studies. We will create national collaborative activities in key areas such as biomarker discovery. We will expand capacity within the Centre by supporting our career development fellows, attracting high callibre post docs and DPhil students, and thereby enhance our international visibility. Our 5 year goal is create a sustainable Centre and to realise our translational ambition that will improve the quality of life for individuals with OA.