Bournemouth University Research Institute features in national campaign

A Universities UK (UUK) national campaign, ‘MadeatUni’, will see a host of UK universities celebrated for their contributions to society and everyday life – including the work of Bournemouth University’s Orthopaedic Research Institute (ORI), based at BU’s Lansdowne Campus.
The list, which has been compiled by UUK, aims to celebrate significant inventions, discoveries and social initiatives made by academics over the years which have had a transformative impact on people’s everyday lives.

ORI, which was set up in 2015, was founded with the intention of working across the university, local hospitals, and industry partners to carry out research that will improve patient care and develop clinician practice in the UK.

Headed by consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Professor Rob Middleton, and associate professor of Orthopaedics, Tom Wainwright, the Institute has seen its services in high demand due to the higher proportion of orthopaedic surgeries required in the Dorset region. As a result, ORI’s research is making a significant difference to clinical practice and patients in the local area.

The Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has provided funding to enable the purchase of world leading equipment to support ORI’s work, including the procurement of virtual reality surgical training equipment and creation of a GRAIL gait laboratory – one of only 23 in the world – which allows medical professionals to see how new devices and surgical techniques can improve outcomes for patients.

Professor Middleton said, “Establishing ORI stems from our passion for improving the quality of care for orthopaedic patients. Our previous research has demonstrated that enhanced recovery pathways can make a significant difference both to patient recovery and clinical practice. By delivering multi-disciplinary support from the beginning of a patient’s journey, we can improve quality of care and reduce the length of hospital stay needed.”

Commenting on future projects, and a new community-based exercise programme, associate professor Tom Wainwright said, “ORI is conducting a NIHR funded clinical trial to compare standard NHS physiotherapy treatment for hip arthritis to an innovative, 8-week community based exercise and educational programme focused on using cycling to reduce hip pain.

He added, “The outcomes of this trial are set to influence the treatment of hip arthritis globally. Furthermore, ORI will also carry out one of the first studies in the world to evaluate the outcomes of robotic hip surgery using the facilities at its world-class facility.”

Professor Dame Janet Beer, president of UUK, said the list is “a testament to the difference that universities make to people’s lives.”