GAT Aspirations

GAT is constantly re-assessing priorities in its expenditure, in the light of changing trends in areas of greatest need and in required provision for future projects. One of our prime objectives is the facilitation of appropriate research programmes and, while we have now given priority to provision of equipment for many years, we are now able also to step up our research involvement, initiating work which should benefit many more people and the effects of which should be felt well into the future. In conjunction with our nearest Universities at Bristol and at Bath, we give support to research programmes currently being carried out in our local hospitals for the greater benefit of arthritis sufferers.

Recent projects include:

A study of the effect of instable meniscal tears on pressure applied to the adjacent femoral condyl

This study relates to the most important functional, specialised cartilage of the knee. It has a role in shock absorption, load sharing, joint congruency and lubrication. Meniscal dysfunction has been shown to be associated with the development of osteoarthritis. The research undertaken here, involving the testing first of bovine knees obtained from an organic butcher and then of human cadaveric knees, is currently being completed. The results of the research will be of direct benefit to those meniscal tear patients awaiting repair and the health-care system as a whole. The outcome of this research might significantly influence the time of intervention after meniscal tear injuries.

Research undertaken by Hilary Bosman BSc, MBBS, MRCS University of Bath.

Research predicting the progression of osteoarthritis: a statistical analysis of sequential clinical imaging and biomarker data obtained from a 5 year prospective study of patients with knee osteoarthritis.

This analytical research programme to be started later this year will take some two years to complete and will be funded by GAT, costing £66,000 to cover the support of a Research Fellow statistician and the provision of essential computer, printer and some defined statistical software and manuals. The disease process of osteoarthritis (OA) may involve a varying balance of intra-articular tissue degradation, attempted repair and inflammation. Measured serum levels of macromolecules act as biomarkers of these activities and help us to identify those patients whose OA is most likely to progress and require joint replacement surgery. This work will provide the basic tools needed to plan ahead in more efficient treatment for arthritis sufferers.

Research to be undertaken by
Dr Linda Hunt, Senior Lecturer in Medical Statistics
Prof John Kirwan, Professor of Rheumatic Diseases
Dr Mohammed Sharif, Lecturer in Anatomy
University of Bristol.

In addition to our on-going research projects, we are embarking on the setting up of a GAT Information Helpline.

Have you ever noticed how impossible it can be sometimes to open a simple jar of jam, even with healthy fingers? Or to manipulate those awful safety caps on bottles? Imagine how much worse that task can be for someone with arthritis in the hands! There are small gadgets available to help with such daily tasks, as well as much bigger items to help people around their own homes.

We have identified a gap in the local service provision for arthritis sufferers, in the lack of any comprehensive database of personal, household and mobility aids currently available to local people. We need a definitive register of all availability, both for purchase and for hire, with clear details with regard to location of such suppliers, terms and conditions, means of delivery and outline of returns policy.

Our Trustees are presently commissioning a study which will produce such a database. Once up and running, it will provide the substance of a phone helpline which GAT will make available to members of the public needing to find out more about such facilities.