Prof Jim Richards

Name: Prof Jim Richards

Institution: University of Central Lancashire

Theme or Role: Theme lead for “Next Generation of Leaders in OATech”

Contact: jrichards@uclan.ac.uk

Brief biography: I was appointed Professor of Biomechanics and Director of the Allied Health Research unit at University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in 2004, which has grown to over 60 research active individuals. My work includes the clinical application of biomechanics, the development of new assessment tools for chronic disease, conservative and surgical management of orthopaedic conditions. Since 2008 I have authored over 100 peer reviewed journal papers and over 150 conference papers with over 100 invited talks in 30 different countries over 5 continents. In the last decade I have secured approximately £5m of funding, on the majority of which I was lead applicant. I am an associate editor for “The Knee” and have written 2 textbooks; Biomechanics in Clinic and Research (2008), and the 5th edition of Whittle’s Gait Analysis (2012). I have also contributed chapters to Tidy’s Physiotherapy, Mercer’s Textbook of Orthopaedics and Trauma 10th edition (2012), Experimental Research Methods: A Guidebook for Studies in Trauma Care (2015) and Patellofemoral Pain: A Clinical Guide (2017). My papers, talks and seminars have led to 1000s of patients worldwide now receiving conservative management for Knee Osteoarthritis and Patellofemoral Pain who would have otherwise been treated surgically or not at all. One of our most recent papers published in BJSM explored subgroups in musculoskeletal research which focused on targeted treatments relevant to clinical presentations and the efficacy of those treatments through biomechanical and clinical research. From a managerial perspective, as well as leading the Allied Health Research unit since 2004, I chair the College of Health and Wellbeing Professors and Readers Research Forum at UCLan, which is a group of 40+ Professors and Readers from a wide variety of backgrounds with the purpose of encouraging open discussion.

Vision for the OATech+ Network: To develop the next generation of leaders in OATech through academic internships, placements and summer schools. Personal interest in the stratification and patient subgrouping to determine responders and non-responders to different conservative management of OA to better target treatments prior to surgical options.

Funding has been awarded to 4 ECRs in work placements at RVC, Cardiff University, Strathclyde and KU Leuven.