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  5. The NELOA platform study is a key research effort focused on improving our understanding of joint health especially in the legs

The NELOA platform study is a key research effort focused on improving our understanding of joint health especially in the legs

Overview

  • What the study is about 
  • The problem it addresses 
  • Who it’s for 

The NELOA platform study is a key research effort focused on improving our understanding of joint health, especially in the legs. Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the UK over the age of 45 have knee Osteoarthritis (OA), and 1 in 9 have OA of the hip. OA can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the affected joints which can affect daily activities. We know that having an injury can increase the risk of developing OA, but not all people who have an injury develop OA and we want to understand why that is. The purpose of this study is to understand who is at risk of developing OA following injury.  

Within the main study, there are also two open sub-studies called NELOA BOP and NELOA KNEE which participants can enter if they have an eligible injury type.

Why this study matters

  • The gap in knowledge or care 
  • Why now 
  • Potential relevance to care / communities we serve  

Currently, there is no effective approved treatment for OA and huge clinical challenges remain for the treatment of affected patients. This study will help us find new ways to identify, treat, and prevent OA. NELOA will help us learn more about joint health, improve care for people with OA, and help to find ways to prevent people developing OA. 

Building off our experience in inflammatory arthritis observational cohort and randomised study designs, we will apply multi-modality data integration to common high burden MSK diseases to address major areas of unmet need in osteoarthritis (OA). This step change will harness the translational potential of the population we serve across Northeast London.

What we’re doing

  • Study design (high level) 
  • Population or data source 
  • Timescale 

The NELOA platform aims to set in place a research and governance infrastructure for the efficient delivery of a suite of observational studies to improve the care of people at risk of developing future OA of the joint(s) of their lower limb. 

NELOA KNEE will help identify biomarkers of OA development and progression in patients who recently suffered an acute knee injury. 

NELOA BOP will investigate why some people recover easily from common leg injuries by conducting a range of strength and biomechanical tests in the early stages of the participants' injury treatment journey. 

Participants will be recruited in North-East London when seen in a Barts Health NHS orthopaedic setting. The study duration is 10 years, and each sub-study will have a different recruitment period dependent on sample size needs. 

Data linkages with GP practices and NHS England will also be used to augment participant health profiles for wider analysis.

Who is involved

Include: 

  • Lead investigators 
  • Key partners (NHS, industry, charities, international groups) 

Prof Xavier Griffin is the NELOA Chief Investigator and has received input and expertise from Prof Francesco Dell’Accio in NELOA KNEE, and Prof Dylan Morrisey in NELOA BOP.  

The study is funded by the NIHR Barts Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) MSK theme.  

Study samples are being collected in partnership with the Barts Bio Resource (BBR) team who have provided the required regulatory framework and guidance to ensure compliance with HTA standards.

Current status

  • Recruiting  
  • Data collection underway 
  • Analysis phase

NELOA recruitment began in 2025 into the Master cohort and of both the KNEE and BOP sub-studies. This is a single-centre study, and recruitment is being led by the Barts Health Orthopaedic research delivery team based out of the Royal London Hospital. 

Data collection is currently underway within the study REDCap eCRF database and the Barts Health medical records systems.

 Get involved

  • Participant recruitment link 
  • Contact email
  • Related publications or protocols

For more information, or if you have any questions, the NELOA study team can be contacted using the following mailbox: neloa-bjh@qmul.ac.uk 

If there is a preference to reach out to the NHS research team for information then the Barts Health Delivery team can be contacted using the following mailbox: bartshealth.orthopaedic-research@nhs.net

Study protocols are not currently available to the public.

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