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06 November 2019

Centre for Rheumatic Diseases recognised as Centre for Excellence

The Centre has been named by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) as one of the top research centres in Europe for rheumatology research.

busy hospital

The Centre for Rheumatic Diseases in the School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences led by Professor Andrew Cope will join 31 other research centres across Europe who have been recognised for their contributions to research in the discipline of rheumatology and musculoskeletal science. The aim of the centres is three-fold; to develop a group of first-class research centres for active researchers, to enable an exchange of fellows' research projects, and forge collaborations across Europe.

EULAR is the organisation which represents people with arthritis and rheumatism, health professionals (HPR) and scientific societies of rheumatology from across all the European nations.

The Centre for Rheumatic Diseases offers academic scholarship in research, teaching and education, and serves as a unit for research-active scientists, clinical investigators and service users/carers and affiliated NHS partners whose research focus aligns to the rheumatic diseases.

Recent achievements from the Centre include being awarded funding to explore the impact of Axial Spondyloarthritis on mental health, uncovering beneficial effects of statins on immune health, leading on one of the first, pioneering rheumatoid arthritis prevention trials and defining how patients prescribed multiple medications have worse outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis.

We were delighted to hear that our research efforts in musculoskeletal science had been recognised by EULAR. This Centre of Excellence status acknowledges a huge amount of work from many dedicated investigators spanning studies in basic molecular and cellular biology, epidemiology and statistics and health outcomes, not to mention experimental medicine studies and our leadership roles in a growing number of large scale observational and interventional studies.

Professor Andrew Cope

The award is valid for 5 years when the Centre can apply for an extension.

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Andy Cope

Professor of Rheumatology