Academic clinical fellowships in Trauma and Orthopaedics

Academic Unit of Bone Metabolism

The department hosts the Mellanby Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, The Healthy Lifespan Institute (HeLSI) and the MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Aging (CIMA). The Mellanby Centre, based in the University of Sheffield’s Medical School, was established in 2009 and aims to establish a focus for bone research at the University of Sheffield, foster the development of inter-disciplinary research across the University, develop collaborative research programmes and grant applications, develop links with the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, and widen the profile of bone research at the University. We have a world-class translational programme of basic and clinical bone research with a wide-ranging and comprehensive remit.

This makes the Mellanby Centre unique in the UK, and one of only a small number of such institutes worldwide. HeLSI, established in 2018, is a flagship research institute of the University of Sheffield that brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers focussed on improving musculoskeletal health throughout the lifecourse. CIMA is a collaboration between researchers and clinicians at the Universities of Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle. Established in 2012, CIMA aims to understand why our bone, joints and muscles function less well as we age, and why older people develop clinical diseases of these musculoskeletal tissues, such as arthritis or osteoporosis.

Basic biomedical research within the department covers all aspects of bone cell biology and is supported by two dedicated core laboratories for bone research and bone analysis. The laboratories contain the latest automated immunoassay analysers, state of the art high resolution microCT imaging equipment, and the equipment and expertise necessary to undertake quantitative dynamic bone histomorphometry.

The ACF Programme

The ACF programme is directed by Mark Wilkinson, Professor of Orthopaedics. Areas of research you may participate in will include osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis, patient responses to implant materials, and outcomes after joint replacement surgery. We utilise many approaches to study these diseases, including epidemiological studies, genetics, epigenetics, imaging, cytokines and biochemical markers. Our approaches to the study of these diseases include both clinical and pre-clinical and in-vitro models. Our research training programme of work is supported by the infrastructure available within the Department of Human Metabolism, the Mellanby Centre, and through close working with other Departments within the University, including the Faculty of Engineering, and through strong collaborations with colleagues at external institutions.

Enquiries

Academic Programme Director: Prof Mark Wilkinson

j.m.wilkinson@sheffield.ac.uk