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Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology

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Leading group of researchers

All phases of clinical trials undertaken

Founded in 2008

Our group delivers innovative rheumatology and experimental medicine clinical trials, combining deep expertise in inflammatory and musculoskeletal diseases with advanced experimental medicine approaches. We design and run studies across the clinical trial pathway, from early mechanistic and biomarker-driven investigations to later-phase and pragmatic rheumatology trials, with the aim of improving understanding of disease biology, accelerating the development of effective therapies and optimising treatment strategy in routine care.

Experimental medicine approaches are central to our work and are used to elucidate mechanisms of action, identify biomarkers, and assess early signals of clinical utility for novel therapeutic agents. Rheumatology forms the core of our portfolio, reflecting a strong heritage in inflammatory and musculoskeletal disease research.

We maintain close links with both the Botnar and Kennedy Institutes, enabling close integration of clinical trials with cutting-edge translational science. We also support a number of key trials led by chief investigators from other UK Universities. In addition to early-phase experimental medicine studies, the group also undertakes later-phase rheumatology trials, including large, multicentre studies evaluating efficacy, safety, comparative effectiveness and treatment strategies.

Experimental medicine is not a single trial design but a flexible, hypothesis-driven approach that can be applied across diseases and stages of development. As the portfolio expands, these methodologies are increasingly being applied beyond rheumatology while retaining a strong focus on immune-mediated and musculoskeletal conditions.

The theme makes use of a dedicated clinical research facility space at the Nuffield Orthopaedic centre and the Oxford Experimental Medicine Clinical Research Facility on the Churchill site.

Examples of recent and ongoing work include:

TaILOR  

LEADER 

RAMBOH-1 

OPTIMISE 

MONITOR  

SPEED 

POISE 

RIDD 

HOPE-e 

IMPROVE 

VROOM 

ATOMIC2 

Anti-Freaze-F 

Our team

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Selected publications