Behind Disease

04/04/2023

Working with patient partners can improve not only the way we conduct our research but also the way we communicate science. The unique perspective that comes from “first-hand” experience is unparalleled and can help steer our studies towards areas that patients consider of bigger relevance in their lives.

Irene and Mike are two of our amazing partners, and co-authors of the upcoming leaflet “Behind Rheumatoid Arthritis”. By sharing their journey with us and participating in the development of this leaflet, Irene and Mike ensured our content was relevant and helpful for people who want to learn more about this disease.

This is what they had to say about their experience:

“Being part of the project allowed us, as lay people, to understand more easily the process of how Rheumatoid Arthritis affects the body. It gave us the opportunity to appreciate the science and terminology involved and, also, to seek clarity whenever needed. Hopefully, this leaflet will provide useful information for people who have RA and can be used as an aid to help discussions with those professionals supporting them.

Working with the group was both very interesting and enlightening. It gave us an insight to the hard work that is needed to produce such a supportive leaflet. We were encouraged to give our ideas and opinions, and made to feel an integral part of the group.”

Thank you, Irene and Mike, for your amazing feedback and all your help throughout the development of our leaflet!

31/03/2023

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic disease that is estimated to affect around 1% of the UK population. It is caused by a malfunction of the immune system, which instead of protecting the body against danger starts attacking its own healthy joints. There are many factors that can contribute to the development of Rheumatoid Arthritis, but genetics are thought to play an important role. It is also known that women are up to three times more likely to develop Rheumatoid Arthritis and can be affected from as early as 18 years old, although the disease is more likely to appear in middle age. If left untreated, it can result in crippling pain that leaves patients struggling to carry out everyday tasks like brushing their teeth, cooking or even making a cup of tea. It is important that patients understand how Rheumatoid Arthritis can impact their lives from the moment they are diagnosed and work together with their doctors to set treatment goals to control their symptoms, slow the condition and live a longer, more comfortable life.

We worked together with partner patients and developed a creative leaflet to improve public understanding of Rheumatoid Arthritis and empower patients to take ownership of their care. An online version of this leaflet will be made available soon, so keep watching this space for more news!

28/03/2023

Last week, Dr Helen Wright presented the Behind Disease project at the Faculty Public Engagement and Involvement Showcase, including a sneak peek of our upcoming "Behind Rheumatoid Arthritis" leaflet. The feedback was great and we will be releasing the online version soon. Stay tuned!

16/03/2023

Marion is a member of the University of Liverpool’s Musculoskeletal Patient Involvement Panel and she shared her thoughts about our Behind Osteoarthritis leaflet. It is lovely to hear that our project has the potential to make a difference in people's lives, and contribute to a better understanding of this disease!

For those of you who might not be aware, the patient involvement panel is a collaboration between our musculoskeletal biology researchers and members of the public, with personal or family experience of a range of musculoskeletal conditions. The panel meets at regular intervals throughout the year, giving members an insight into upcoming research projects and ensuring work remains relevant.

Working with the panel allows us to view our project from a patient perspective and focus on details we hadn’t previously considered. It is a great way to get feedback from the people that would be benefiting from our projects.

You can learn some more about this panel here: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/life-course-and-medical-sciences/get-involved/public-patient-involvement/

14/03/2023

Navigating work life with arthritis can be challenging. Here are some types from Versus Arthritis!

What are your top tips for navigating work life with arthritis? Here are some of ours:

- Plan and prioritise
- Learn about your entitlements
- Ask for help
- Make your work setup comfortable

Read more tips and hear from people with arthritis: https://bit.ly/WorkingWithArthritisFB

14/03/2023

BEHIND OSTEOARTHRITIS - IT'S NOT JUST WEAR AND TEAR

Osteoarthritis is a debilitating disease of the joints and has historically been described as a disease of “wear and tear” – or rather, a natural consequence of ageing. However, this idea is outdated. Studies have shown that osteoarthritis results from a collection of events within the joint that actively destroy the joint tissues, leading to pain and disability in millions of people.
For the past couple of years, the Behind Disease team has been working on ways to address this misconception. We have developed a patient-oriented leaflet to improve public understanding of some of the biological mechanisms of osteoarthritis.

The leaflet uses understandable metaphors to break down information in a highly visual way. Important components of the joints are depicted in a cartoon-style to simplify the complex molecular concepts, with examples including “collagen bridges” that are destroyed by enzyme “explosions”, and “paramedic cells” that unsuccessfully try to repair the joints.
Prior to its official release, a draft version of the leaflet was shared with the University of Liverpool’s Musculoskeletal Patient Involvement Panel, where a group of patients critically analysed the work and shared their insights on the usefulness of this project.

The leaflet has been published and advertised through social medial platforms and distributed at patient insight events and clinical settings such as GP surgeries. An electronic version is currently available online at www.simplebooklet.com/behindosteoarthritis

10/03/2023

The Behind Disease project is driven by a multidisciplinary team of scientists at the University of Liverpool. The project was pioneered by Dr David Wilkinson, who struggled to find public-orientated resources that explained the mechanisms behind osteoarthritis and decided to approach Dr Catarina Castanheira and Prof Mandy Peffers to address this issue. As the project expanded to cover other diseases, Dr Helen Wright joined the team. Together, they aim to bring awareness to different musculoskeletal diseases and explain the biological mechanisms behind them.

More about the team:

➡️Dr David Wilkinson is a Versus Arthritis Career Development Fellow at the University of Liverpool. He has a background in protein biochemistry and his research focuses on osteoarthritis. He has a particular interest in proteases, which function as molecular scissors causing the destruction of cartilage. Alongside his research, he is keen to promote better understanding of musculoskeletal diseases amongst patients and the wider public.

➡️Dr Catarina Castanheira is a final-year PhD at the University of Liverpool, and a veterinary surgeon by training. Her studies focus on the role of microRNAs in osteoarthritis, which are tiny molecules that regulate the production of proteins in all body tissues. Catarina is passionate about medical communication and about using visual media to promote scientific understanding. She is the medical illustrator in our team and designed all of our leaflets.

➡️Professor Mandy Peffers is a veterinary surgeon by training and Personal Chair in Musculoskeletal Sciences. She spent 11 years in industry and private practice before completing her PhD on proteomic and transcriptomic signatures of cartilage ageing and disease. She heads a research group that focuses on the epigenetics of musculoskeletal ageing and disease in humans, dogs and horses, as well as the role of extracellular vesicles and their therapeutic potential.

➡️Dr Helen Wright is a lecturer in the department of musculoskeletal and ageing science. She has a special interest in the role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, with a focus on the regulation of neutrophil metabolism and gene expression in musculoskeletal disease and frailty. She is chair of the musculoskeletal biology patient involvement panel which brings together researchers and people with musculoskeletal disease to discuss research priorities and the design of research studies with a patient focus.

08/03/2023

It is estimated that a third of the UK population lives with a musculoskeletal disease. But what exactly are these?

The term "musculoskeletal" refers to the locomotor system, which includes bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and some soft tissues. Musculoskeletal diseases affect these tissues and often cause pain and loss of mobility.

These conditions can make everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, or even using the toilet much more challenging. They can impact people's ability to live independently, work, or care for their families. Ultimately, patients might feel that their quality of life is decreased.

Some of these conditions are dismissed as an inevitable part of ageing, which is not accurate. The biological mechanisms that cause them are much more complex than "just wear and tear", and understanding how they occur can empower patients to take ownership of their care.

This is why the Behind Disease project focuses on addressing the public perception of musculoskeletal diseases. Our aim is to raise awareness of these issues and bring a better understanding of how different musculoskeletal conditions develop, through the use of simple and engaging illustrations.

07/03/2023

Hello, and welcome to our page!

"Behind Disease" is a project created by academics at the University of Liverpool that aims to improve public understanding of musculoskeletal diseases.

We have developed a series of patient-orientated leaflets that use engaging illustrations to translate the complex molecular mechanisms behind musculoskeletal diseases into understandable metaphors. This work has been developed in partnership with a group of patients to ensure the brochures are relevant and impactful.

On this page, you can find more information about our project, our team and our patient-partners. You can also get "behind the scenes" and check how we developed our leaflets, from the very first drafts to the finished pieces!

We hope that this page becomes a useful resource for anyone who would like to know more about musculoskeletal diseases, and we can't wait to hear from you!

- The Behind Disease team