16 July 2025

Cambridge Professor, Andrew McCaskie, has recently been announced as the new NIHR Chair of the UK Musculoskeletal Translational Research Collaboration (MSK TRC)

Professor McCaskie is Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Head of Department of Surgery and Deputy Head of the School of Clinical Medicine at the University of Cambridge and an Honorary Consultant at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. He has taken over the role from his predecessor Professor Maya Buch of the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre.

The purpose of the UK MSK TRC is to coordinate and lead the UK’s expertise, and strengthen collaboration in ground-breaking translational musculoskeletal research. Musculoskeletal research includes rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases which affect approximately 17 million people in the UK. With over 30 million working days being lost each year, these diseases present some of the most significant health and social care challenges facing the UK. The Department of Health and Social Care have prioritised improving diagnosis and treatment for these conditions.

Professor McCaskie said:

“I am delighted to be appointed to the role of Chair of the UK Musculoskeletal Translational Research Collaboration. Over the past few years, the MSK TRC has grown in both theme content and membership, representing a thriving network of collaborators across the UK, able to drive forward musculoskeletal research. I look forward to building on this momentum and further developing our ambition and focus to drive an innovative translational approach to benefit people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.”

Professor McCaskie will work jointly with Deputy Chair, Professor Stefan Siebert, who continues in his role. There will also be continued collaboration with Versus Arthritis, with which the UK MSK TRC has a long-standing partnership.

Professor Lucy Donaldson, Director of Research at Versus Arthritis said:

“The UK Musculoskeletal Translational Research Collaboration has been critical in facilitating truly cutting-edge translational research for the benefit of people with musculoskeletal diseases. We are delighted to welcome Professor McCaskie as the new Chair of the UK Musculoskeletal Translational Research Collaboration. We look forward to working with him as he builds on the fantastic work of the previous chair Professor Buch. Professor McCaskie brings with him a wealth of research and leadership expertise that will help to accelerate the delivery of precise and impactful translational research across the UK.”