Circle Health Group, the UK’s largest private hospital operator, has donated £10k to Arthritis UK as sponsor of its Research Highlight of the Year competition
Each year, Arthritis UK shortlists six finalists to be voted on by the public. The annual award looks to celebrate the outstanding work being carried out in the field of arthritis research. ‘Exploring the genetics of osteoarthritis’ was announced as the 2025 winner on 17 December.
Exploring the genetics of osteoarthritis is the largest-ever osteoarthritis genetics study using genetic data from nearly two million people. Their research found over 950 genetic links to osteoarthritis, uncovering 8 different underlying diseases processes.
Circle Health Group is one of the UK’s leading private hospital operators and supports over 2 million patients each year to access everything from specialist medical advice and assessment to imaging and diagnostics, physiotherapy, health assessments and surgical and non-surgical treatment. Committed to providing its patients with the latest in technology and clinical innovation, the partnership with Arthritis UK is yet another example of Circle Health Group working with strategic partners to improve the research, understanding and treatment of conditions like arthritis.
It is estimated that arthritis impacts close to 10 million people in the UK alone. The term is used to describe pain, swelling and stiffness in a joint or joints. There is no cure for arthritis; however, research grants like the one Circle Health Group have provided, are key to improving our understanding of the condition and developing new treatments, earlier diagnosis, and hopefully a cure.
Professor Eleftheria Zeggini and team hope their groundbreaking findings could help to understand osteoarthritis better, showing new drug targets and paving the way for better and more personalised treatments.
Professor Eleftheria Zeggini, one of the senior authors of the winning paper, said: "The Genetics of Osteoarthritis international team of collaborators is delighted that our work is being recognised by this prestigious award. Our findings on osteoarthritis genetics advance our understanding of the disease and lay the groundwork for developing more effective and personalised therapies that can transform osteoarthritis care."
Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Arthritis UK, said: “I am delighted to see Professor Eleftheria Zeginni and team with their research on exploring the genetics of osteoarthritis win this competition and thank Circle Health Group for their valuable sponsorship to help make this campaign possible. It was a tough competition, and you can see a challenge for the public to choose a winner from the exceptionally high calibre of entries, all of which build on our ninety-year legacy of significant advancements in the understanding and treatment of arthritis.”
Peter James, Chief Medical Officer at Circle Health Group, said: “Congratulations to Professor Eleftheria Zeggini and team on winning this year’s grant. As an organisation, Circle Health Group are committed to supporting the development of cutting-edge research that promises to deepen our understanding of conditions like arthritis. It’s a privilege to be sponsoring Arthritis UK’s Research Highlight of The Year awards and playing our part in supporting the charity’s work across the UK.”
