Osteoarthritis Research Consortium 2025

Deadline: 16:00 Wednesday 25th June 2025
Costs: Up to £3 million
Duration: Up to 60 months
Funding Decision: January 2026
Contact: awards@versusarthritis.org

Focus

Versus Arthritis seeks to support team science working ‘across and together’ to bring integrated thought and ambition toward unlocking a problem area at pace - creating a community of shared expertise and knowledge to deliver a cohesive programme of research to achieve the aims. 

We are inviting Consortium-based research that aims to unlock area(s) of problematic understanding relating to our ability to better stratify osteoarthritis disease.

What are we looking for?

Consortium funding should seek to gain distinct progress in one or more of these areas specifically in relation to osteoarthritis subtyping:

  • Early detection and timely diagnosis.
  • Managing disease and expectations around prognosis, particularly in relation to progression to poor outcomes.
  • Determination of which people may be at risk of rapid progression from mild disease to joint replacement.
  • Impacts of life course events on osteoarthritis severity and/or progression, such as trauma/injury, menopause, later life.
  • Likelihood of therapy response / sub-population categorisation to facilitate personalised treatment application and development.

Who can apply?

  • The lead applicant must be based at an eligible UK institution.
  • One applicant must have a tenured position within the lead institute.

The Consortium leadership should adopt a team science approach. However, financial and administrative system limitations require there to be a defined Consortium Lead. Individuals are not allowed to Lead more than one Consortium. Individuals are allowed to be members of multiple Consortia. 

There is no defined minimum or maximum number of Consortium members, it’s about bringing the best people together; we are not expecting single site applications. International members bringing expertise or facilities that are not available in the UK are welcomed.

What you can apply for?

  • Costs for salaries, expenses and small items of essential equipment can be requested.
  • Awards of up to 60 months duration, up to £3 million. 

A proportion of the Consortium funding can be allocated to support the core facilitatory resources and assets required for the research delivery. 

We plan to invest up to £3 million in a single award.

How to apply

There is a one-stage application process, with a gathering of interests step. 

Please submit a Notice of Intent to Apply by 16:00 on Wednesday 30th April 2025. 

This should be an email to awards@versusarthritis.org with a PDF document outlining:

  • summary of the proposed consortium in plain English (500 words)
  • a list of consortium members (name, institution and role)

You should not wait for an invitation to submit an application in Grant Tracker following submission of your expression of interest.

  • Additional Consortium members can be added after the intent to apply submission, they should be noted to the office by email.

Applicants are invited to submit applications through Grant Tracker, where the form is available. 

Applicants must carefully read the Call document, the application form and guidance document before starting an application.

Please ensure that the most appropriate language is being used in each section of the form and that the correct sections are completed.

The deadline for the receipt of applications is 16:00 on Wednesday 25th June 2025. Please allow time for management of appropriate reviewers and signatories to access the Grant Tracker system and provide their approvals. Submissions after 16:00 will not be accepted.

If you have any questions about the call, please email: awards@versusarthritis.org