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The Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences has excelled in the last Research Excellence Framework (REF) results.

The Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences has excelled in the last Research Excellence Framework (REF) results.

The REF assesses the quality and impact of research submitted by universities across all disciplines, with the latest results showing top-ranking for Oxford’s clinical medicine.

NDORMS submitted to the REF’s Unit of Assessment 1 - Clinical Medicine - alongside other academic departments, and contributed significantly to the excellent results of UoA1 at Oxford; the sub-panel welcomed the strong return in orthopaedic sciences, as well as the outstanding reach and significance of the impacts from research in musculoskeletal and ageing.

Professor Andrew Carr, Head of NDORMS, said: "NDORMS has made a significant contribution to the nationally top ranked submission from the University of Oxford. It is particularly gratifying to have been specifically mentioned by the assessment panel for both the quality of our publications and the impact of our research. This is a testament to the world class multidisciplinary researchers working in the department."

The results for UoA1 show Clinical Medicine at Oxford ranked top on overall REF research profile (GPA rank) using all quality scores. Overall, we were also top ranked with maximum 4* score, where 53% of overall submissions were judged to be world-leading for originality, significance and rigour, and 92% of our overall quality profile was rated as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. On addition, 82% of our research impacts were scored 4* - outstanding in terms of reach and significance - and 18% scored 3*.

You can see an example of how research at NDORMS significantly impacts people’s lives in this short video on fighting arthritis.

Read more on the University’s page and see the University's REF 2014 results table.

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