The LIFT (Listening, Involving and Forging Trust) programme in musculoskeletal (MSK) research is a five-year, multi-partner initiative funded by Arthritis UK in partnership with Orthopaedic Research UK and the Kennedy Trust. The programme will establish a national Patient Voice Network to make patient and public involvement (PPI) more accessible, more inclusive and more impactful across the whole MSK research community.
LIFT will address long‑standing barriers that prevent many people with lived experience from influencing the research that affects them. It will also support researchers, particularly those at the early stages of their career or those working in laboratory-based research, to involve patients and the public meaningfully from the beginning of the research process.
The programme will build accessible UK-wide PPI infrastructure, helping researchers connect with people with lived experience regardless of seniority, geography or research setting. It will also strengthen support for early involvement before funding applications are submitted through practical guidance, training, resources and funding.
These activities will help increase both the quality and quantity of meaningful patient and public involvement in MSK research, supporting better research and deliver better outcomes for the 10 million children, young people and adults living with arthritis across the UK.
The University of Aberdeen will play a central role in the LIFT programme, with Dr Rosemary Hollick, Senior Clinical Lecturer in Rheumatology within the Epidemiology Group and Director of the Aberdeen Centre for Research Excellence in Musculoskeletal Health, leading the initiative across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Building on the Centre’s research‑led approach to PPI, embedded across its musculoskeletal research portfolio, the Aberdeen team will focus on developing sustainable, community‑driven networks, building capacity for researchers and public contributors, ensuring approaches are shaped by the needs and contexts of different communities and improving access for rural, remote and underserved populations.
Dr Rosemary Hollick said: “Many people living with arthritis face barriers to taking part in PPI activities, including geography, lack of support, or limited awareness of opportunities. We also know that researchers report challenges accessing guidance and resources particularly before applying for funding making it difficult to involve people with lived experience early in the research process.
“Through LIFT, we will lead the programme’s work across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, strengthening and supporting PPI in ways that recognise the different health systems, infrastructures, geographies and communities across these nations.
“Alongside this, we will embed a robust evaluation to understand what works, for whom, and in which contexts, ensuring that learning translates into practical, scalable approaches that improve access and impact of PPI across the UK.”
Michelle Stevenson has lived experience of a musculoskeletal condition and, as a member of the Aberdeen Epidemiology PPI Group, has helped shape the initiative. Michelle said: “As someone living with an MSK condition in rural Scotland, I know first-hand how many barriers stand between people like me and research involvement – factors like distance, awareness, and just knowing where to even start! I didn’t realise that vital research was happening on my doorstep until the team in Aberdeen reached out to me in 2019.
“Being involved has been incredibly rewarding and has opened my eyes to how research can shape future progress in healthcare. That’s why LIFT matters so much, not just for me, but for the thousands of others across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who don’t yet know that their voice is wanted, and that research can work for them too.
Professor Krysia Dziedzic, Associate Pro Vice Chancellor Research and Impact, Keele University, who leads the LIFT network said: “This is an exciting initiative, a new UK‑wide, co‑produced partnership to form a national musculoskeletal network focused on inclusion and high‑quality public involvement in research. We’re building on decades‑long relationships with partners, with hubs in Leeds, Aberdeen and Manchester.”
Professor Lucy Donaldson, Director of Research at Arthritis UK, said: “As the UK’s leading arthritis charity, we are proud to fund research that amplifies the voices of people living with arthritis. The LIFT programme is a major step forward in removing long‑standing barriers to involvement and setting a new standard for how MSK research should be conducted.”
Dr Arash Angadji, Chief executive of ORUK said: ‘We are delighted to be supporting an initiative that will improve the quality of arthritis research by giving researchers better access to people with lived experience of arthritis, especially those from underserved communities. We hope that it will encourage even more research into a condition that affects the lives of so many people.’
Dr Stephen Simpson, CEO, The Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research added: The Kennedy Trust is delighted to be working in partnership with Arthritis UK and Orthopaedic Research UK to support the LIFT programme. By establishing an inclusive, UK-wide Patient Voice Network, we will strengthen connections between researchers and people living with MSK conditions, particularly those from underserved communities, ensuring more meaningful and consistent involvement.