News for researchers

Our Research Advisory Groups interact with the charity around research prioritisation and investment.  They have a UK-wide remit. They bring together people with lived arthritis experience, scientists, clinical and allied health professional researchers and practitioners and trainees.  They provide insight on areas of unmet need for research investment across discovery science, translational research, clinical research and applied research in disease management and health care services. Following the publication of our Research Strategy 2022-2026, our Research Advisory Groups have an integral role in helping deliver our strategic goals.  Find out more about these groups.

We are seeking to appoint to a number of vacancies across the Groups – information on how to apply can be found at the end of this call for applications.

Adult Inflammatory Arthritis Research Advisory Group

The Adult Inflammatory Arthritis Research Advisory Group works to improve the quality and impact of research which seeks to develop our understanding and management of conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and spondyloarthritis.

We are seeking to appoint members of the Adult Inflammatory Arthritis Research Advisory Group to develop activities across discovery science, clinical and applied research. We are seeking experience in the areas below.

• Academic Clinician – Rheumatologist.
• Academic Clinician – Allied Health Professional X2 (across Clinical Nurse Specialist &/or Podiatrist &/or Pharmacist &/or Physiotherapist &/or Psychologist).
• Clinician – Rheumatologist.
• Clinician – Allied Health Professional (across Clinical Nurse Specialist &/or Podiatrist &/or Pharmacist &/or Physiotherapist  &/or Psychologist).
• Economic Evaluation.
• Trainee Scientist.

Group member applications are being managed on a rolling basis, no application deadlines currently apply.

Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases Research Advisory Group

The Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases Research Advisory Group works to improve the quality and impact of research which seeks to develop our understanding and management of conditions including antiphospholipid syndrome, scleroderma (systemic sclerosis), Sjogren’s syndrome, Bechet’s syndrome, undifferentiated connective tissue disease.

We are seeking to appoint members of our Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases Research Advisory Group to develop activities across discovery science, clinical and applied research. We are seeking experience in the areas below.

• Scientific Researcher.
• Academic Clinician - Allied Health Professional.
• Clinician - Rheumatologist - Health Service Delivery
• Clinician - Allied Health Professional.

Group member applications are being managed on a rolling basis, no application deadlines currently apply.

Musculoskeletal Disorders Research Advisory Group

The Musculoskeletal Disorders Research Advisory Group works to improve the quality and impact of research which seeks to develop our understanding and management of conditions including osteoarthritis, crystal diseases (such as gout), Regional and widespread musculoskeletal pain (e.g. back pain, shoulder pain and tendinopathy; fibromyalgia), metabolic bone disorders (e.g. osteoporosis and rare diseases), musculoskeletal injuries caused by acute traumatic events.

We are seeking to appoint one new member of our Musculoskeletal Disorders Research Advisory Group to develop activities across discovery science, clinical and applied research. We are seeking experience in the areas below.

• Discovery science, genetics.

Group member applications are being managed on a rolling basis, no application deadlines currently apply.

Applying For Posts

All posts are available for a three-year term. Roles and responsibilities, and terms of reference are available upon request.

Applicants should submit a one-page CV giving details of current and relevant previous posts and roles, accompanied by a statement exemplifying relevant experiences and expertise and briefly outlining how the applicant will develop the work of the Group (600-800 word maximum).

Applications should be submitted to Glen Neal at g.neal@versusarthritis.org. 

If you have any queries please contact Dr Sarah Rudkin, Head of Research Strategy s.rudkin@versusarthritis.org.

Vacancy title: Fellowship Expert Committee Members

Hours: Twice yearly meetings with allowance for preparation and reading of materials, and occasional additional virtual meetings.

Salary: Unremunerated. Versus Arthritis will pay for reasonable out-of-pocket travel expenses in line with the Charity’s expense policy.

Contract type: 3-years

Download the candidate brief

About the role

Versus Arthritis operates a Fellowship Expert Committee (FEC) to assist the charity in planning, developing and undertaking activities to support fellowship awards. The role of Fellowship Expert Committee is to input expertise and insight and provide strategic advice to help the charity plan and prioritise new fellowship activities, including our financial investments and influencing activities.

We are looking for a discovery researcher who has an active role in career support within their institute or an external role. We would welcome applications form junior members of faculty.

You would be expected to contribute actively in the role, giving clear advice and challenge to the organisation, contributing to strategic and policy discussions, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against the agreed targets.

Members of the committee will input expertise and insight for their respective areas and provide strategic advice to help the charity plan and prioritise new fellowship activities, including our financial investments and influencing activities.

Members will review and discuss applications to our Bridging Fellowship scheme. Members will also have opportunity to take the role of Chair or Vice Chair of Versus Arthritis Funding Review Panels to help the charity in making decisions for research funding activities.

Key requirements

To be successful in the role, you will be committed to Versus Arthritis values as well as having:

• Expertise, knowledge of and enthusiasm for academic career development.
• Diplomacy and great people skills with the ability to work closely with and get the best from members of the Fellowship Review Funding Panels and Charity staff.
• Highly developed leadership and facilitation skills with the ability to create an environment that encourages input and maximises the contributions of all.
• Strategic level experience, preferably gained at committee level.

Key skills

We are looking for a discovery researcher who has an active role in career support within their institute or an external role. We would welcome applications from junior members of faculty.

To apply please submit:

1. A comprehensive CV.
2. A supporting statement summarising your skills and experience (1,000 words maximum).

Email your completed application to Glen Neal, Awards and Procurement Governance Officer, awards@versusarthritis.org 

We are seeking clinical and academic members for the Progress Review Committee who will advise the charity on the progress of studies recruiting human participants and provide feedback to those award holders within the Versus Arthritis research portfolio. Members will be expected to input expertise and insight for their respective areas and consider bi-annual progress reports from award holders.

We aim to appoint 2 members and would particularly welcome applications from rheumatologists with the following:

• Experience of rare disease studies
• Expertise of autoimmune rheumatic diseases
• Expertise of inflammatory arthritis
• Experience of interventional trials of medicines

For further information on these positions and how to apply please see the briefing document (Word, 647.1 KB).

Committee member applications are being managed on a rolling basis, but with the intention that new members could attend the November 2024 meeting of the Committee.