Orthopaedic Research UK

Who we are

We are Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK), one of the very few medical research charities investing our funds to encourage breakthrough research and education programmes in bone, joint and muscle wellbeing. Our aim is to reduce the burden of poor musculoskeletal (MSK) health on individuals, workplaces and our health system.

The need we serve is ever worsening: 19m people suffer from MSK problems in the UK, costing the NHS £5bn per year, resulting in ever-lengthening NHS waiting lists, and the loss of 30m working days to the UK economy.

We fund innovative research projects in the UK that expand knowledge, improve patient outcomes and pioneer new forms of MSK diagnosis and treatment. Our investment makes a real difference to the lives of millions of people suffering poor MSK health, today and into the future. Since 2004 we have invested £11m on research on 140 projects in the UK. Over the next three years we plan to invest a further £2.5 on research and attract £0.5m in partner contributions.

We support education, primarily through workshops, training courses, lectures, virtual conferences and webinars that will improve knowledge of MSK conditions. During the past year we staged 55 events and in total we educated 8,303 healthcare professionals with the support of 491 faculty members. On average, 98% of participants rated our events as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ in terms of educational value.

Despite the tremendous burden placed on individuals and society, MSK health does not always receive the attention or investment that it merits. This is why, in addition to using our funds to fill the most important gaps in research funding and professional education, we work with partners, such as leading professional institutions, to attract additional investment to the sector.

By working together and sharing knowledge and ideas, we can become a stronger voice for MSK health.