Our Emerging Lead of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Leeds’ Osteoarthritis Workstream has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to musculoskeletal research.
Professor Kingsbury began her academic career at University College London, exploring novel prognostic biomarkers and treatment targets for cancer. She joined the University of Leeds in 2009 and moved into applied, patient-centred research in musculoskeletal health. In 2022 she became Emerging Lead for the Osteoarthritis Workstream at the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Leeds (NIHR BRC: Leeds). She works across the University of Leeds School of Medicine, the Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine (LIRMM) and NIHR BRC: Leeds.
Her research is focussed on improving therapeutic outcomes, work participation and quality of life for people living with osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. It spans the full translational pathway, from understanding disease mechanisms and testing new treatments, to improving NHS care and helping people with arthritis return to or stay in work. Her current projects include SOLVE (Stratification of Osteoarthritis to Promote Living Well and Treatment Effectiveness), a £3m Arthritis UK consortium co-led by Leeds and Keele, which is exploring why osteoarthritis affects people differently so that treatments can be better matched to individuals; ENABLE (Economic iNactivity, Arthritis, and depression: developing guidance to support Better Living and Employment), and D-MAPP (Digital-My Arm Pain Programme), which is developing and testing a digital self-management and exercise intervention for elbow, wrist and hand pain.
Her research is underpinned by a commitment to making research and healthcare more inclusive and equitable. Her work with under-served communities is a best-practice case study in the NIHR Research Inclusion Toolkit, and she co-leads LIFT (Listening, Involving and Forging Trust in Musculoskeletal Research), a five-year Arthritis UK-funded initiative building a UK-wide Patient Voice Network.
Speaking about her appointment, Professor Kingsbury said:
“I’m thrilled and very grateful. Translational research is a team effort, and I owe a huge thank you to my colleagues, collaborators, funders and the patients and communities who have shaped our work. I’m looking forward to building on this, so that research makes a real difference to people’s lives.”
Director of Operations for NIHR BRC: Leeds, Dr Steve Rose, said: “Having been on the appointment panel when Sarah joined Leeds in 2009, it has been a privilege to work with Sarah since then and witness her continued success, increasing involvement with the NIHR BRC: Leeds and the impact her research is making”
Prior to her appointment to Professor, Dr Kingsbury was Associate Professor and Musculoskeletal Strategic Lead at the University of Leeds.