Congratulations Stevie and Rebecca!

We’re delighted to say that Dr Rebecca Lee and Dr Stevie Shoop-Worrall gained their PhDs this year with research based on the CAPS study. Both Rebecca and Stevie have now joined the team here at the Centre for Musculoskeletal Research as Research Associates.

Rebecca’s PhD was about new ways to improve pain assessment and communication for children and young people with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, using new technologies. As part of this work, we developed ‘My Pain Tracker’, which is an app-based pain assessment tool completed at home by children and young people.

Stevie’s PhD explored which young people will achieve remission of their JIA. Stevie is now funded by the Medical Research Council on their new CLUSTER programme (Childhood arthritis and its associated uveitis: stratification through endotypes and mechanism). CLUSTER brings together world-leading clinical, academic, scientific, statistical and industry expertise in childhood arthritis and its associated eye inflammation uveitis, in partnership with children, young people and their families. Its aim is to improve the lives of children living with these life-changing, complex conditions.

Rebecca is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) via the Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). The NIHR BRC connects world-leading researchers based at The University of Manchester and three NHS Trusts in Greater Manchester, with a joint vision to drive forward the transformation of scientific breakthroughs into life-saving treatments and care for patients.