Arthritis UK Winter Appeal

Sixty per cent of people living with arthritis are in pain most or all of the time

For some, pain becomes their whole world, affecting their mobility, work, relationships, independence and ability to do the things they love. Current treatments do not bring relief to everyone, so finding new and more personalised ways to tackle pain is urgent. 

"I’m Professor Simon Jones and I lead a team of researchers at the University of Birmingham. Alongside researchers including Professor Franziska Denk and Dr George Goodwin, we’re working towards a future where arthritis pain no longer controls people’s lives. 

In my laboratory, we are developing a targeted treatment for osteoarthritis using an approach known as gene silencing. Our aim is to switch off the genes responsible for inflammation and pain in the cells lining the joint. Getting the treatment to the right place is crucial. We have identified a specific ‘antenna’ on the cell surface that acts as a gateway. Our therapy is designed to use these ‘antennae’ to deliver treatment directly to the affected cells after it is injected into the joint. By targeting only the cells where treatment is needed, we hope to avoid side effects elsewhere in the body. 

Professor Franziska Denk and Dr George Goodwin’s work seeks to uncover why pain becomes chronic and how it can be treated more effectively. They are exploring the cellular changes that make nerves hypersensitive, as well as the role specialised nerves play in arthritis pain. Understanding what drives chronic pain could reveal new targets for treatment and help more people live free from its debilitating effects." 

Please donate today and help us move towards a future free from the pain of arthritis.

What we've raised so far

How your gift can help switch off arthritis pain 

"Relieving pain could give people much more than physical comfort. Exercise is an important way to manage osteoarthritis, strengthen joints and improve mobility, but it can feel out of reach when every movement hurts. Better pain relief could help people get moving, spend time with friends, care for family, study, work and maintain their independence. 

My team has now combined the most promising elements of our approach into potential new treatments that target pain-related genes in specific joint cells. Our next step is to test them using cells donated by people who have had joint replacement surgery and identify the strongest candidates for further development. At the same time, research by Professor Denk and Dr Goodwin are deepening our understanding of chronic pain and pointing towards other potential treatments. 

Progress like this is only possible with sustained support. Every stage - from understanding the causes of pain to testing a potential therapy - depends on funding. Without it, promising discoveries may never take the vital next steps towards the people who need them."

Your donation can help our teams of researchers continue this work and bring potential new treatments closer to the people who need them most. 

The Advanced Pain Discovery Platform (APDP)

In 2019, we committed to co-funding the Advanced Pain Discovery Platform (APDP) – a cross-industry initiative bringing together experts from several research fields to break through the complexity of pain.

The platform was the biggest single investment in pain research in the UK’s history, marking a turning point in our understanding. And now it’s time to translate those learnings into real-world treatments.

Your support can help make sure that all this incredible work continues, paving the way towards treatments that could transform the lives of people living with arthritis.

Please donate today and help us fund the next stage of this life-changing research to switch off arthritis pain.