Imperial Knee health cohort: New Exploration of Early-stage changes (Imperial KNEE) study

Who we are?

We are a team of doctors and scientists from Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. We are conducting research called the Imperial KNEE study, because we are interested in the health and needs of people with a history of early-stage changes in the knee, and we aim to improve the health of people’s knee joints. This is a ‘non-interventional’ study,  meaning we are observing people’s health rather than testing a new drug or surgery. We will follow their affected knee throughout the study, between a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 5 years.

What is our aim?

 The purpose of the study is to find 'early signs', including those in individuals’ genetic makeup (DNA), blood, and knee synovial fluid (knee joint fluid), that might tell us if someone’s knee health is likely to improve or worsen over time. We expect to recruit up to 200 participants in total

What would participation involve?

Most study activities, like questionnaires and follow-up data collection, will be completed remotely, at yearly intervals.

Individuals with early-stage knee osteoarthritis might also be approached by our research team during a routine hospital visit. Taking part involves:

  • providing a blood sample or buccal swab (sample from the cheek, for DNA)
  • sometimes knee joint fluid from the knee joint (only if there is a knee procedure scheduled as a part of hospital care)
  • questionnaires, completed at baseline and at follow-up visits
  • a knee X-ray appointment at year 2 (there is also a knee X-ray at baseline if none is available as part of usual care).

Individuals who had a knee injury will be asked to provide a saliva sample for DNA (by post) and to complete study questionnaires at baseline and follow-up visits.

If participants have previously provided biological samples with other studies/registries (i.e., Imperial Health Knowledge Bank or Imperial College Healthcare Tissue Bank) they are not required to provide any new samples, but permission is sought to link existing data and samples to this study.

Study Information

The Participant Information Sheets (PIS) and Informed Consent Forms are accessible via the links provided below.

Participant Information Sheet (In-person recruitment)

Participant Information Sheet (Remote recruitment)

Informed Consent Form (In-person recruitment)

Informed Consent Form (Remote recruitment)

The study is run at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, however if someone lives outside London there might also be opportunity to join the study. We encourage interested individuals to get in touch with the Study Coordination Centre - we are happy to answer all your questions.

Funders: Arthritis UK and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

HRA/ REC Reference: 26/LO/0569   

IRAS PROJECT ID: 323431