News Upfront The latest arthritis news and research New research to improve lives and wellbeing The Nuffield Foundation and Versus Arthritis are committing 1.94m in funding to six new research projects, across five universities, that aim to improve the wellbeing and working lives of people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. Versus Arthritis Research Partners people living with MSK conditions will advise across the lifetime of the projects to ensure the research is highly relevant to real-world needs. The projects have a common theme of how MSK conditions impact on peoples ability to live and work well, to inform policy and practice responses. The PAW trial: feasibility and acceptability of the Painat-Work Toolkit will explore whether a PAW Toolkit, which gives information, support and advice to people who self-manage chronic pain at work, is acceptable and useful, and whether it helps them stay in employment. Arthritis, work and wellbeing. This project will look at: how stopping or reducing work affects the health, quality of life and wellbeing of people with arthritis; which groups have the poorest outcomes from such changes; and what kinds of policy interventions are most likely to help. Remote osteoarthritis peermentorship. This study will develop and evaluate a remote peer-mentorship programme for those with hip and knee osteoarthritis who are experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage. The psychological, social, and economic impact of musculoskeletal conditions project will use largescale datasets to compare outcomes between people with MSK conditions and those without. It will also look at quality of life and the effect of social prescribing. Juvenile onset rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases (jRMD). This research seeks to better understand the impact of jRMD on children and young adults to inform the development of evidence-based work experience programmes, support pathways and influence government policies. Extending working lives for people with musculoskeletal conditions. The UK government wants us to work for longer. This project will investigate the viability of extending working lives for people with musculoskeletal conditions. WANT TO KNOW MORE? Visit: www.nuffieldfoundation.org/funding/oliver-bird-fund 5 16:03 Inspire Spring 23 pp04-05 Upfront News.indd 5 14/02/2023 16:56