Researcher profile

Anthony Woolf

Professor Anthony Woolf is a consultant rheumatologist and past Clinical Director of the NHS National Institute of Health Research Clinical Research Network Southwest Peninsula. He is Past Chair of the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance, UK (ARMA). He is emeritus editor-in-chief of Best Practice and Research Clinical Rheumatology. He is a director of MSK Aware CIC. He has long been involved in projects related to raising awareness of the impact of musculoskeletal conditions and priority for education, prevention, treatment and research at a national, European and global level. He leads the Bone and Joint Monitor Project, a global health needs assessment that provides the evidence base for action working in partnership with experts and organisations globally. This has included identifying the burden of musculoskeletal conditions through the Global Burden of Disease project and developing strategies for their prevention and control through EU funded projects. He works internationally with WHO and EU and nationally with NHS England, Public Health England and Department of Work and Pensions to provide the evidence to ensure that musculoskeletal health is in all policies – health, social and employment. In particular he is working on initiatives to promote healthy active ageing, increase physical activity, improve management of musculoskeletal conditions and to reduce the impact that these conditions have on people’s lives. His current research programme is focusing on identifying ways to enable people to remain in work through the prevention and management of musculoskeletal conditions.