New Ideas Grants

NEW Arthritis Australia Joint Impact – Lived Experience Priority Research Grant

As the national peak charity representing people living with arthritis and musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, Arthritis Australia’s mission includes funding research that reflects the priorities of people with lived experience that will drive better health and wellbeing outcomes. Arthritis Australia’s research funding includes significant donations from the general public including people living with arthritis, their family and carers.  

Based on a body of work Arthritis Australia commissioned with Research Australia, four key research investment areas were identified as priorities by people with lived experience of arthritis and MSK where there is existing research capability but not dedicated funding.

1. Better Care: coordinated and bundled care with a focus on allied health. 
Delivery of better arthritis and MSK care is a strong area of need. Current research into models of care covers a variety of topics, but there is no overarching, systematic approach to this field of research and how it can best meet needs of people with lived experience of arthritis and MSK conditions.
Arthritis researchers surveyed by Research Australia highlighted the need for more research on integrated models of care and interdisciplinary collaboration. There is also very little research activity on the best ways to fund arthritis care and support. This is also a major area of unmet need as identified by arthritis consumers.

2. Basic Research: causes of arthritis and MSK, identification of symptoms, prevention.
People living with arthritis want to know the aetiology and pathology of arthritis – what is the nature and cause of arthritis, and why did they get diagnosed with this disease. Pure basic research and strategic basic research have a key role to play in meeting these areas of unmet need. Basic research can be classified as experimental and theoretical work undertaken to acquire new knowledge without looking for long term benefits other than the advancement of knowledge. This can also include strategic basic research which is undertaken to acquire new knowledge directed into specified broad areas in the expectation of practical discoveries. Basic research into arthritis is not only supported by the researchers themselves but also Australians with lived experience of arthritis. It is important that basic research funded by Arthritis Australia is underpinned by strong lived experience and clinician codesign.

3. Priority Populations: arthritis and MSK research for populations identified as high priority. The National Action Plan states that there should be more arthritis research on populations that have been identified as high priority by both patient groups and clinicians caring for them. There is an identified lack of research into the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, people living in rural and remote areas, and people with disabilities in managing arthritis.

4. Cross cutting research: coordinating funding advocacy efforts with musculoskeletal diseases. The potential research priorities identified through analysis of the National Action Plan are all potentially cross-cutting and could be potentially applicable across multiple types of arthritis or musculoskeletal conditions and/or applicable to neglected arthritic diseases. This could cover broader conditions and problems that affect patients with both arthritis and other conditions (e.g., pain in general, disability, mobility difficulties, psychosocial and economic distress); risk factors that cause both arthritis and other diseases (e.g., poor diet and sedentary lifestyle); and comorbidities that affect patients with both arthritis and other condition (e.g., heart disease and diabetes).

The application and how to submit 

Before submitting your application please review the Joint Impact – Lived Experience Priority Research Grant Guidelines here.

Submission of abstracts is now closed. 

Full Application
Full applications must be submitted via email at researchgrants@arthritisaustralia.com.au