30.12.2025

Cardiff University and Arthritis UK Celebrate Research Impact

Displaying our CPNN+ 'What We Carry: Living With Pain' PPI project at the event, attended by our co-applicant, Valerie Sparkes.

Cardiff University and Arthritis UK have celebrated over a decade of groundbreaking arthritis research with the launch of the Arthritis UK Biomechanics and Bioengineering Research Centre Impact Report and two flagship events, showcasing how the Centre is transforming lives through cross-disciplinary innovation, cutting-edge technology and global collaboration.

Cardiff University’s Arthritis UK Biomechanics and Bioengineering Research Centre marked a major milestone with the publication of its Impact Report, unveiled during an online “Launch and Learn” event on 10 December 2025, followed by an in-person Impact Showcase on 16 December 2025 at the Centre for Student Life at Cardiff University.

Professor Lucy Donaldson, Director of Research, Arthritis UK commented:

“This Centre represents Arthritis UK’s largest investment into arthritis research in Wales. We are extremely proud of how our Centre has formed worldwide collaborations, developed globally unique technologies, trained the next generation of research leaders, and driven meaningful real-world improvements for people with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions.”

Established in 2009 with £4.5 million funding from Arthritis UK, and funding from Cardiff University the Centre has grown into a world-leading hub for interdisciplinary research, connecting expertise across a wide range of Cardiff University’s Schools, including the Schools of Healthcare Sciences, Dentistry, Engineering, Biosciences, Pharmacy, Psychology and Medicine. Its mission is to advance understanding of musculoskeletal conditions, improve patient outcomes and train the next generation of researchers.

The Impact Report reveals that the Centre has leveraged more than £27 million in additional funding since its inception and produced over 275 publications, cited more than 9,000 times worldwide. These achievements underscore the Centre’s influence on global musculoskeletal research and its ability to attract significant investment.

Another associated success has been the creation of the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Facility, Cardiff University’s School of Engineering, a UK-first super lab equipped with state-of-the-art imaging and gait analysis technologies. This facility enables researchers to capture real-time joint movement and apply that knowledge to improve rehabilitation and surgical outcomes, setting new standards for clinical research.

Dr David Williams, Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Facility, School of Engineering, Cardiff University said:

“Speaking at the event was a privilege, allowing me to share my work with a truly interdisciplinary audience and engage with patients whose lived experiences continue to guide my in-vivo imaging research towards real-world impact”.

The Centre also helped establish the UK Knee Osteotomy Registry in 2014, the world’s first national registry dedicated to collecting outcome data for knee osteotomy procedures. This initiative has provided invaluable insights into surgical effectiveness and patient recovery, helping clinicians make evidence-based decisions.

Training and capacity building have been central to the Centre’s mission. Over 50 PhD students and five clinical higher degrees have been supported, creating a pipeline of skilled professionals who now lead research and clinical practice across the globe.

One standout story featured in the report is Wayne’s journey, which illustrates the Centre’s role in nurturing talent. Starting as a PhD student in biomaterials, Wayne Nishio is now a Senior Lecturer at Cardiff University, leading research into advanced bone cement technologies that could reduce infection risk and extend implant lifespan.

Dr Wayne Nishio commented:
“Being part of the Centre has been transformative for my career. It gave me the skills, networks, and opportunities to develop innovations that could make joint replacements safer and longer lasting”.

The Impact Showcase brought together researchers, clinicians, industry partners, and people with lived experience for sessions on scientific, translational, and societal impact. Highlights included presentations on novel technologies such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and image-driven biomechanics, as well as digital health innovations like BACK-on-LINE™ and the Cardiff Classifier for gait analysis.

Dr Jen Davies, School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University said:
“Talking at the Showcase about the novel system I have developed to deliver brain stimulation during walking was a valuable opportunity to share an exciting new experimental capability with a broad academic audience, and to spark interest and discussion about what may now be possible scientifically”.

The event concluded with a panel discussion featuring people with lived experience, reinforcing the Centre’s ethos of patient involvement in shaping research priorities. Attendees heard how collaboration across disciplines, from engineering to healthcare sciences, has driven breakthroughs that are now influencing clinical practice and improving patient care.

Looking ahead:
With global collaborations spanning 28 countries and cutting-edge facilities, the Centre is poised to continue its mission: improving lives through science, technology and collaboration.