Frequently Asked Questions

  • Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common form of arthritis. It is a chronic condition that impacts the entire joint structure, including bones, cartilage, ligaments, and muscles. Previously considered a result of age-related 'wear and tear,' OA is now believed to stem from an imbalance between cell breakdown and renewal. Find out more about osteoarthritis here.

  • The Osteoarthritis Clinical Research team is a dedicated group of osteoarthritis researchers and clinicians who are committed to advancing our understanding of osteoarthritis including its causes, treatment and prevention.  

  • You can view all current clinical trials here.

  • Most of our trials are conducted at Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards but we do have some trials that are conducted remotely or at other locations in Australia. 

  • If you are interested in joining a clinical trial, the first step is to complete an online screening survey to check if the trial could suit you. You can access the online screening surveys for each of our clinical trials here. 

  • By participating in a clinical trial, you can:  

    • Learn more about your disease or condition 

    • Help researchers find new ways to prevent or treat disease 

    • Play an active role in managing your health 

    • Have access to new treatments not yet available to the public 

    • Continue receiving high quality care  

    • Help others by contributing to advances in medical research and major medical breakthroughs 

  • There is no cost to being involved in our trials. You may be reimbursed for your time, and this will vary depending on the trial. The participant information sheet for each trial outlines what, if any, reimbursement will be provided.  

  • Before any trial begins, it must be approved by an independent Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) to ensure that the rights, safety, and well-being of participants are protected. Trials are also conducted according to strict national and international guidelines (such as Good Clinical Practice) and are monitored throughout by qualified researchers, doctors, and oversight bodies. 

    All potential risks are carefully assessed and explained to you before you decide to participate. You’ll also be closely monitored during the study, and you can raise any concerns at any time. 

  • This will vary with each trial. The participant information sheet for each trial describes the activities that will be undertaken as a participant, which will give you an indication of the time commitment needed. You can also discuss this with the study team. 

  • Participation in a clinical trial is completely voluntary. If you decide to withdraw, you can do so at any point without giving a reason and it will not affect your ongoing medical care or relationship with your healthcare providers. 

    If you choose to leave, we may ask if you're willing to have a final visit to help ensure your health and safety, but that is entirely your choice. 

    If you are considering leaving a clinical trial, we encourage you to speak to the study team about your concerns as they may be able to help you address these. 

  • If you are interest in joining a clinical trial but are unsure about which might be suitable, consider joining The Osteoarthritis Participant Network. The network aims to connect people who would like to take part in osteoarthritis research with osteoarthritis research projects that suit them. It takes just 5-10 minutes to join up and once you join we will keep you up to date on upcoming research. 

  • As well as being involved in our clinical trials, you can also support our research by: 

    • Making a tax-deductible donation. All donations go towards supporting our research. Donate here

  • The Agency of Clinical Innovation (ACI) has published patient resources that were co-designed by our team. 

    My Joint Pain is a website that provides comprehensive information to support your osteoarthritis management journey and is dedicated to helping people with joint pain and osteoarthritis lead more active and pain-free lives.  

    Arthritis Australia is Australia’s leading national arthritis charity that works with affiliated state organisations to deliver information and support to people living with arthritis.