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The SOLVE consortium will aim to identify subgroups of osteoarthritis in order to better match treatments to individuals and improve their quality of life.

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ researcher Dr Fiona Watt, from the Department of Immunology and Inflammation will join researchers from the universities of Leeds, Keele, Oxford, Edinburgh, Nottingham and Southampton alongside healthcare professionals and people with lived experience of the condition.

The Stratification of Osteoarthritis to Promote Living Well and Treatment Effectiveness (SOLVE) Consortium is supported by a £3 million award from Arthritis UK, as part of the charity’s drive to harness ‘team science’ to better understand the processes underlying arthritis and improve treatment options.

The consortium will be led Professor Philip Conaghan, Director of the NHIR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre and Professor Melanie Holden of Keele University.

Dr Fiona Watt, Clinical Associate Professor in Rheumatology said, “Part of why we have not been successful so far in developing new treatments for osteoarthritis is that there is a lot of variation in how the condition affects different people and how it evolves over time. This work aims to address this area directly to make real progress for people living with osteoarthritis. I am excited that we will develop further research that we have spearheaded at Imperial, to better understand different risks of osteoarthritis in high-risk populations for osteoarthritis including women and those who have experienced a significant joint injury. The consortium includes exceptional UK researchers who will be working closely together to tackle this important topic, and we are delighted to be a part”.

The challenge of osteoarthritis

. This figure is growing rapidly due to ageing and obesity, yet effective treatments remain limited. The SOLVE consortium will hope to tackle this by using cutting-edge science to both existing and new data, from tissue samples and interviews, and focus on four key areas: science to both existing and new data, from tissue samples and interviews, and focus on four key areas:

• Identifying osteoarthritis subgroups to target treatments 
• Exploring how life events such as joint injury and menopause influence risk 
• Developing tools to predict rapid disease progression and guide timely care 
• Designing inclusive, tailored exercise programmes that address social barriers

By focussing on these areas, the researchers aim to deliver more personalised care and health people live well with osteoarthritis. The results will be shared through a range of partners including the government, NHS and community and patient networks.

Professor Philip Conaghan, a world-leading osteoarthritis researcher and rheumatologist, said: "The new Arthritis UK Consortium, SOLVE, is an exciting programme that will, for the first time, bring together previously separate fields, data, and expertise to create the evidence needed to improve care and outcomes for people living with osteoarthritis, from those at risk to people with severe joint disease needing a joint replacement.”

Professor Lucy Donaldson, Director of Research at Arthritis UK, said: “We are proud to fund research that is operating at the forefront of medical advancements, that listens to patient voices and is committed to improving the very limited number of treatment options available.

“SOLVE will not only improve outcomes for those who face daily challenges from managing a complex and often-debilitating condition, but also improve knowledge amongst healthcare professionals, and inform on wider Government MSK policy, truly driving positive change.”