New Directory of AS Research Papers

A new directory of research papers on AS covering a range of medical topics including drug therapies, physiotherapy, exercise, fatigue and general AS reviews is now available to all healthcare professionals with an interest in AS. Visit the Directory of AS Research Papers for more information.

Your chance as a patient to influence
future research into AS

There is a major national move to increase the amount of clinical research done in the UK, and to make sure that all patients who’d like to participate have the chance to do so. To this end the government has provided substantial funding (£250M) for the infrastructure within the NHS which is needed to deliver research, and have set up nationwide research networks. This new pro-research climate in the NHS presents an opportunity for all organisations which fund clinical studies, and in response Arthritis Research UK (previously arc) has developed a new strategy for funding clinical trials. They have set up Clinical Studies Groups (CSGs) in all the major branches of arthritis, including one in ankylosing spondylitis and related conditions.

The task of the CSGs is to consider the clinical questions which need to be answered in each group of diseases, and then to decide on priorities – which can be answered now and which need to wait until we have better technologies? Which are less likely to help patients and don’t therefore represent good value for money? This leads to a research strategy which can be implemented using funding from Arthritis Research UK, often with other partners, taking advantage of the national networks and infrastructure. Each CSG needs to get opinions from everyone involved – doctors, health professional and most importantly patients, so that the strategy which is decided commands the very widest support. Two patients with AS, the Director of NASS, and other patient representatives are members of the spondylitis CSG.

Therefore all NASS members now have a unique opportunity to put forward ideas that they, as patients, think should be considered as research priorities for the future. NASS will feed this information into the CSG meetings. Please send in your ideas by completing the very short questionnaire using the link below. Who knows? – maybe your ideas will end up being those which lead to studies being designed, funded, and producing results which alter the lives and treatment of future ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Click on this link to complete the questionnaire: NASS Research Questionnaire

Click on this link: Spondyloarthropathies Clinical Studies Group for the latest news.