Help shape our research

Our research partners are people with lived experience of arthritis who are key to bringing real life perspectives to shape our research.

Our research partners work as equal partners in all our activities to ensure that the research we fund, and support is of the highest quality and based on the needs of people with arthritis.

Our collective aim is to maximise improvements to their quality of life through research, for now and in the future.

We want people with lived experience, parents, partners, or carers of people with arthritis, to have their say on the research we fund.

To make changes to the wellbeing and treatment of people living with arthritis we need to conduct research. We fund researchers to explore new treatments and services.
Your thoughts and opinions help guide our researchers with what is important to people living with arthritis. Working in partnership is the way forward.

The role of research partner is varied, and individuals can choose the level of work and time commitment that suits them.

• You do not need any experience of contributing to or working in research.
• We will provide you with all the training and support you need.
• Anyone with lived experience of arthritis, or partner, family member or living with a person with arthritis can be a research partner /
• Getting involved won’t cost you anything other than time, and all reasonable expenses will be covered in line with our policy.
• We understand that you might not always be able to get involved, and changes could be last minute. We are happy to explore new ways and support to make sure your views are heard and acted upon.

Learn more about work towards our ultimate vision – a future free from arthritis – our values will help us achieve success in everything we do.

• Some people join funding panels where they assess if they feel a researcher, or a researcher’s project should receive our funding.
• Others help us agree what research areas are important to fund.
• You can contribute as little or as much as you wish depending on your availability.
• There are also opportunities to work directly with researchers; shaping their projects and their research, ensuring that is arthritis-friendly and consistent with arthritis priorities.
• At the moment, most of our work together is done online, and you will be supported to access and be comfortable in using any technology.

We are actively looking for members who are ethnically and culturally diverse and those who are living with disabilities.

We want to work with you. Have your say and join us as a research partner.

If you have any questions about being a research partner, or would like to join us but would prefer not to complete the form, please send us an email on researchinvolvement@versusarthritis.org. We would be happy to answer your email and if helpful, arrange a time to talk with you.