Volunteer information

To help further our understanding of the causes of arthritis, we are always looking for volunteers to assist us with our research.

With over 2,000 volunteers on our records, their contribution to our research has helped to improve treatment, prevention and recovery for others with arthritic complaints.

We conduct research on people who have any of the following:

• healthy joints
• back pain
• current or previous musculoskeletal injury or pain
• osteoarthritis of the knee

Ways to get involved

Clinical sample donation

For some of our research we may ask you to donate samples such as blood, urine or waste tissue from surgery. The aim of analysis samples taken before, during and after treatment or a clinical procedure, is to help us research the causes, diagnosis and treatment and/or monitoring of joint problems. Samples you donate may be used for a number of related research studies associated with Centre.

Motion capture

We have a number of projects in the Centre that capture your movement using different types of technology. The aim of the research is to investigate the functions of joints for people with joint problems compared with people with healthy joints. The data can be used to develop new treatments, improve the design of joint replacements, improve rehabilitation and improve the way that motion is assessed and treated clinically.

Fluoroscopy

Fluoroscopy is a study of moving body structures using an XRay beam, an ‘X-Ray Video’. The purpose of this research is to use previously developed imaging and computational methods to examine the differences between healthy, arthritic and knee replacement/surgical intervention knees. We will examine the function of different implant designs and knee function following other operations/conservative (eg rehabilitative) intervention, and compare them to healthy knees.

MRI

The aim of this part of the research is to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to take pictures of your joints to help understand joint disease or injury.

Seeking opinions

We invite volunteers to take part in interviews with our researchers. This allows us to gain your opinion via a recorded interview on the use of new technologies, treatments and advice such as the use of phone apps. Interviews are conducted with healthy volunteers and with members of the public who have arthritis, knee injuries and back pain.

How we work

We work to a strict protocol, reviewed and approved by Wales REC 3, to improve people's health and well-being through research and we are currently recruiting at Local Health Boards in South East Wales.

For information on specific research projects currently ongoing in the Centre see our research pages.

Get in touch

For information on volunteering, please contact us: