The latest updates on our research and how it is improving people’s lives.
Study challenges fears over blood-clot risk from painkillers and hormonal contraception
17 Oct, 2026
Women using hormonal contraception who are prescribed common anti-inflammatory painkillers may not face a drug-related increase in blood-clot risk despite previous research, according to a new DARWIN EU® study.
First clinical study in GSK-Oxford Experimental Medicine Collaboration starts as first patient dosed in ulcerative colitis experimental trial
14 Oct, 2026
The first patient in the PEGASUS clinical study, part of the GSK-University of Oxford Experimental Medicine Collaboration, received the first dose last week, on 8th October 2026.
Adam Croft appointed Norman Collisson Professor of Musculoskeletal Science
8 Oct, 2026
This appointment brings a further focus to linking rheumatology discovery science and clinical trials in NDORMS, strengthening translational rheumatology research across the department to deliver transformative treatments for patients with inflammatory arthritis.
NIHR fellowship to support national trial evaluating rehabilitation after kneecap dislocation
2 Oct, 2026
Dr Colin Forde has been awarded a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Postdoctoral Award to lead a national study evaluating rehabilitation for people with a kneecap (patellar) dislocation.
Robotic hip and knee surgery fails to cut overall risk of repeat surgery
1 Oct, 2026
Two major studies from the University of Oxford, Queen Mary University of London and the University of Bristol, have found that robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement does not reduce the overall early risk of repeat surgery compared with conventional surgery.
Professor Afsie Sabokbar retires after more than 30 years at NDORMS
30 Sep, 2026
Botnar Institute Director of Graduate Studies, Professor Afsie Sabokbar, is retiring after more than 30 years at NDORMS.
Researchers funded to cure – rather than manage – inflammatory disease
28 Sep, 2026
Researchers from the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology will join international partners in a bid to transform how chronic inflammatory disease is treated.
Ghada Alsaleh awarded an Arthritis UK Bridging Fellowship
24 Sep, 2026
Professor Ghada Alsaleh has been awarded an Arthritis UK Bridging Fellowship to advance her work studying potential osteoarthritis (OA) treatments.
NDORMS student Declan Moran recognised as top student at European Space Agency summer school
23 Sep, 2026
Declan Moran, a student in the Alsaleh Group, attended the prestigious summer school led by the European Space Agency (ESA), where he was awarded second place for his research proposal.
Maria Kyriazi wins prestigious award at the British Society for Research on Ageing annual scientific meeting
16 Sep, 2026
NDORMS DPhil student Maria Kyriazi has won the prestigious Korenchevsky Prize for her presentation at the British Society for Research on Ageing (BSRA) annual scientific meeting.
Professor Laura Coates appointed Director of OCTRU
14 Sep, 2026
Professor Laura Coates has been appointed Director of the Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit (OCTRU), where she will lead the next phase of its development and strengthen its position as a leading clinical trials unit.
Dani Prieto-Alhambra appointed Director of the Botnar Division of Translational Sciences
11 Sep, 2026
NDORMS has appointed Professor Dani Prieto-Alhambra as the Botnar Divisional Director of Translational Sciences, bringing together expertise across the department to strengthen research into medicines, devices and other health technologies throughout their lifecycle.
Laura Coates honoured in the Recognition of Distinction Scheme 2026
7 Sep, 2026
Laura Coates has been awarded the title of Full Professor in the University of Oxford’s 2026 Recognition of Distinction Scheme.
Historic smallpox records digitised to support future outbreak research
7 Sep, 2026
NDORMS DPhil student Rabia Khan has led a collaborative project to digitise historic records from the world’s last naturally occurring smallpox outbreaks, creating an open dataset for future epidemiological and disease modelling research.
NDORMS researchers win prestigious national leadership prizes
20 Aug, 2026
Professor of Orthopaedic Trauma Matthew Costa and NIHR Doctoral Research Fellow Rachel Kuo were announced among the winners of the NIHR20 Research Leaders Prizes in recognition of their outstanding contribution to health and care research.
From Paraguay to Oxford: Mariela’s experience of the Trueta Bursary
13 Aug, 2026
Mariela Ortiz, a pharmacist from Paraguay received a Trueta Bursary to attend the Botnar Institute's Summer School in Real World Evidence this June.
Arthritis origins may begin before birth, study finds
12 Aug, 2026
Researchers at the Kennedy Institute have discovered that some joints may be more susceptible to inflammatory arthritis before birth, offering new insight into why rheumatoid arthritis attacks particular joints while sparing others.
NDORMS student wins national research prize
7 Aug, 2026
A medical student at NDORMS has gained a top prize in the prestigious 2026 Falk Foundation/Guts UK Charity national awards. Sara Lyden won the Medical Student Prize for her research project, ‘Integrating histo-molecular patient profiles with patient reported symptoms and quality of life measures in ulcerative colitis.’
Trial exploring effects of drug on liver in psoriasis patients recruits first UK patient
28 Jul, 2026
The first patient in the UK has been recruited to a clinical trial investigating how a new drug affects liver inflammation and scarring in people with psoriatic disease using a new non-invasive MRI scanning technique.
NDORMS team wins Award for Excellence for transforming ulcerative colitis care
6 Jul, 2026
The Sagittarius Team, a pioneering partnership between the University of Oxford and Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) has been recognised with the OUH Award for Excellence 2026 for transforming care for people experiencing a relapse of ulcerative colitis while advancing translational research.