Latest News and Events
Recent Updates
Save the date for our next R2P2 meeting
The next annual R2P2 meeting will take place on the 14th of November 2025 at the Edgbaston Park hotel and conference centre; time tbc. We hope to welcome as many of our members there as possible. We are currently finalising the programme and a formal invite will follow soon!
Rheumatology at the Come to Campus Community Festival
Demonstration of an ultrasound scan for one of our visitors.
Researchers and members of the public at the Community Day next to a model skeleton.
The research group talking to community day visitors about 3D bone printing.
Seeing what hurts: Ultrasound's role in fighting arthritis
Comic about getting involved in clinical research
A comic entitled ‘Arthritis Research Needs You’ was produced in 2025, as part of the public engagement programme of the Glasgow Arthritis Involvement Network (GAIN) which we hope is of interest to R2P2 members too!
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates
Various organisations have useful resources about COVID-19 which might be relevant for R2P2 members:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) - what is it and where to go for information (Versus Arthritis resource):
Versus Arthritis has lots of resources about different types of arthritis and in addition they have pulled together the latest advice on coronavirus and will regularly update this content.
Vaccines for COVID-19 – your questions answered
Coronavirus and RA (NRAS resource):
The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society has Rheumatoid Arthritis specific resources. In addition they now have a special Coronavirus page. Here you will find frequently asked questions, access to live COVID-19 question and answer sessions, as well as helpful links to NHS and Government information. The Coronavirus page now also has a short video with information on COVID-19 for South Asian patients living with a rheumatological condition in Hindu.
For the latest about COVID-19 vaccines, please take a look at the following resources:
Past news
Past news
The RAPID Project: Using electronic healthcare records to develop tools to help GPs determine who is at risk of getting rheumatoid arthritis.
People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are less likely to have long-term joint damage and more likely to go into remission if they are treated early. The RAPID project is developing tools to help GPs recognise who is at risk of RA so they can be referred to see a rheumatologist quickly.
Find out more about the RAPID project
Equal Partners in Global Research: Dr. Marie Falahee & Eva C. Johansson Share Their Stories
Dr Marie Falahee and patient research partner Eva C. Johansson were invited to talk about their experiences of successful research collaboration as part of a suite of training materials for patient research partners, developed by the Swedish Rheumatism Association. They have worked together over the last ten years on several international research projects and discovered together the value of meaningful patient involvement in research.
R2P2 Patient Partner contributes to latest published abstract on unlocking new treatments for bone diseases
Elspeth Insch, our R2P2 patient research partner, contributed to writing a lay abstract for our latest publication on 'Unlocking new treatments for bone diseases: using PEPITEM to strengthen bones and prevent loss'.
Now available to read online via Atlas of Science!
Rheumatology Research Group Brochure
Some of our patient research partners have worked with us to produce a new brochure describing the Rheumatology Research Group at the University of Birmingham - the brochure is available to download here.
The brochure is designed to share our research activities with the wider public and promote our patient partnership. Hopefully this will encourage people who are interested in our research to join R2P2! Please share with all who might be interested. If you would like a printed copy, please contact Becky Birch at r.birch@bham.ac.uk.
R2P2 Meeting 2024
Another fantastic annual meeting!
On Thursday the 23rd of May 2024, 18 patient research partners from the Birmingham Rheumatology Research Patient Partnership (R2P2), 7 members of the 1000 Elders as well as 10 students, researchers, staff from the University and 2 UHB staff joined us at the Edgbaston Park hotel or online for our annual meeting. This meeting was particularly special as we celebrated 10 years of R2P2 this year (and many more years of patient involvement with Rheumatology Research Group)!
The programme included research updates from both senior researchers and early career researchers which led to lively discussion and feedback from patient research partners. A highlight of the day was a live demonstration of ultrasound scanning of the hand and wrist by Mark Maybury (research physiotherapist and sonographer) and Elspeth Insch (R2P2 patient research partner). Mark was kept busy for the rest of the day as most of our patient research partners were also keen to have their own joints scanned!
Read on for more details...
R2P2 members supporting the development of tools to increase physical activity for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Our collaborator Sally Fenton from the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences describes how patient partners are shaping the MISSION-RA study, and developing an informational video for participants.
PPI Involvement for MISSION-RA Study
Successful R2P2 Meeting 2022
It was great to see several R2P2 members at the recent R2P2 meeting which took place on the 7th of October 2022 at the University of Birmingham. This was the first in-person event we have organised in more than 2 years, and it felt good to be back!
We enjoyed an interactive day with a lab tour, lunch, talks and discussions. Find out more below on what our attendees got out of the programme and insights into experiences of the day.
Rheumatoid arthritis, then and now.
Bob Michell, one of the patient research partners from R2P2, has written a very interesting piece in the Lancet Rheumatology about his own experiences of RA and those of his grandfather and the changes in the treatment of RA over the years.
The article is entitled ‘Rheumatoid arthritis, then and now’. You can access it here free of charge (need to register) https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lanrhe/PIIS2665-9913(22)00005-4.pdf
We have successfully delivered a case study for the IMI PREFER project!
The results of this study are now being used in international recommendations on how and when information about patient preferences should inform decision-making during the development and regulation of new treatments.
The case study builds on our previous studies of the preferences of people at risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for treatments to prevent or delay the development of RA.
A summary of the case study findings has been developed with our patient research partners.
An international team of 8 patient research partners, including several R2P2 partners have made a huge contribution to all aspects of this study, including:
- The study objectives
- The way that people were invited to take part in the study
- The information given to people taking part in the study
- A focus group discussion guide
- Interpreting and reporting focus group findings
- The content and design of an online survey
- The summary of our findings for study participants and the general public
- Writing the IMI PREFER recommendations on patient involvement in studies of patient preferences
Thank you to them all for their valuable input, which has enhanced the relevance, efficiency and quality of this important study.
Researcher shares the importance of working with patient research partners to get to the heart of the research question
Dr Amy Naylor is a Senior Research Fellow and member of the Rheumatology Research Group within the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing. Her research group studies the bone remodelling process to identify aspects that can be targeted therapeutically to reverse the bone loss seen as a result of inflammation and ageing and have found patient research partners (PRPs) invaluable.
Save the date!
We are happy to announce that the R2P2 annual meeting will take place on Friday 7th October from 10.00am-2.00pm in the Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Birmingham.
There will be a lab tour, lunch, talks and discussions. We hope to see you there. We will circulate further details on how to sign up after the summer but if you’re able to attend, please save the date in your diary!
Am I at Risk of Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis?
NRAS has recently added the following resource to their website: Am I at risk of developing RA.
This booklet was developed together with both R2P2 patient research partners as well as with a group of international patient research partners as part of the EuroTEAM project. This resource is specifically developed for relatives of those living with RA. We are very proud that NRAS has chosen to include this resource and we think that this is an excellent example how collaborations between patient research partners, researchers and clinicians can have a very tangible and impactful outcome.