Leading group of researchers
All phases of clinical trials undertaken
Founded in 2008
Our focus is the use of experimental medicine techniques to elucidate the mechanism of action and potential clinical utility of novel therapeutic agents. The core of our work is in rheumatology but as the portfolio expands we are applying these approaches to other therapeutic area.
Experimental medicine is a key technique to elucidate the mechanism of action and potential clinical utility of novel therapeutic agents. This theme has a strong heritage in rheumatology and we maintain strong links with both the Botnar and Kennedy research institutes. Within rheumatology the theme also undertakes later stage (phase 3) studies.
Experimental medicine is not a single trial design, rather an approach that can be applied broadly to evaluate novel therapeutic interventions. Examples of recent and ongoing work include:
- RIDD Trial. The first targeted therapy trial for early stage Dupuytren's disease.
- OPTIMISE trial. Use of novel immunological markers to direct biological therapy in Psoriatic arthritis.
- Evaluation of novel disease-modifying treatments for osteoarthritis
- Novel technology to address joint hypoxia
The theme makes use of a dedicated clinical research facility space at the Nuffield Orthopaedic centre and is also closely involved in the creation of a new cross-divisional facility on the Churchill site.
Our team
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Duncan Richards
Climax Professor of Clinical Therapeutics and Director of OCTRU
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Anne Francis
Clinical Trial Operational Lead – Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology
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Laura Coates
NIHR Clinician Scientist and Senior Clinical Research Fellow
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Yvonne Sinomati
Clinical Trials Coordinator
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Jagdeep Nanchahal
Professor of Hand, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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Fiona Watt
Departmental Senior Research Fellow
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Jennifer Williams
Clinical Research Manager
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James Fullerton
Associate Professor of Clinical Therapeutics
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Shing Tak Law
Clinical Research Fellow in Musculoskeletal Medicine
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Mimi Bogale
Clinical Trial Manager
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Nadia Mian
Clinical Trials Assistant
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Roel De Maeyer
Research Fellow
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Amanda Lewis
Clinical Trial Manager
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Gareth Plested
Clinical Trials Coordinator
Selected publications
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Effect of a 2-week interruption in methotrexate treatment versus continued treatment on COVID-19 booster vaccine immunity in adults with inflammatory conditions (VROOM study): a randomised, open label, superiority trial.
Journal article
Abhishek A. et al, (2022), Lancet respir med, 10, 840 - 850
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Anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy for early-stage Dupuytren's disease (RIDD): a phase 2b, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Journal article
Nanchahal J. et al, (2022), Lancet rheumatol, 4, E407 - E416
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Clinical effectiveness of symptomatic therapy compared with standard step-up care for the treatment of low-impact psoriatic oligoarthritis: the two-arm parallel group randomised POISE feasibility study.
Journal article
Rombach I. et al, (2021), Ther adv musculoskelet dis, 13
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Azithromycin versus standard care in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 (ATOMIC2): an open-label, randomised trial.
Journal article
Hinks TSC. et al, (2021), Lancet respir med
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Treating to target in psoriatic arthritis: assessing real-world outcomes and optimising therapeutic strategy for adults with psoriatic arthritis-study protocol for the MONITOR-PsA study, a trials within cohorts study design.
Journal article
Rombach I. et al, (2021), Trials, 22
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A multi-centre open-label two-arm randomised superiority clinical trial of azithromycin versus usual care in ambulatory COVID-19: study protocol for the ATOMIC2 trial.
Journal article
Hinks TSC. et al, (2020), Trials, 21
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Economic evaluation plan of a randomised controlled trial of intra-nodular injection of anti-TNF and placebo among patients with early Dupuytren’s disease: Repurposing Anti-TNF for Treating Dupuytren’s Disease (RIDD)
Journal article
Png ME. et al, (2019), Wellcome open research
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Anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor Therapy for Dupuytren's Disease: A Randomised Dose Response Proof of Concept Phase 2a Clinical Trial.
Journal article
Nanchahal J. et al, (2018), Ebiomedicine, 33, 282 - 288
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What do we know about managing Dupuytren's disease cost-effectively?
Journal article
Dritsaki M. et al, (2018), Bmc musculoskelet disord, 19
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Study protocol: A multi-centre, double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel group, phase II trial (RIDD) to determine the efficacy of intra-nodular injection of anti-TNF to control disease progression in early Dupuytren's disease, with an embedded dose response study.
Journal article
Nanchahal J. et al, (2017), Wellcome open res, 2