In April, 11 members of staff at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, inclusive of surgeons and researchers, attended the International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society (ICRS) World Congress conference in the bustling city of Berlin, Germany.

The conference provides an opportunity for healthcare and research professionals to share and learn about the current developments within the field of cartilage and joints and took place from 12 – 15 April.

It also offered an opportunity for staff at the Oswestry-based hospital to showcase some of the outstanding research to members of the conference and were met with positive, encouraging responses.

Mr Pete Gallacher, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, was one of the staff members who presented at the conference, he said: “It was great to attend the ICRS World Congress, and it was an honour to be asked to give a talk on osteotomy surgery around the knee for New Clip technologies.

“Our joint repair and cartilage regeneration team, made up of surgeons and scientists, were well represented at the meeting and many of our team gave excellent presentations highlighting the research done at RJAH on cartilage repair.”

Dr Karina Wright, Senior Lecturer in Orthopaedics and Bioengineering at Keele University and RJAH, undertook two talks at the event. She said: “Attending and presenting at the ICRS meeting, with so many of my friends and colleagues, from both RJAH and Keele, was a special experience.

She added: “It has reminded me of how highly our scientific and clinical research is regarded internationally and I think will spur us all on to build on this important work.”

Two members of the Keele University Research team who were based at RJAH also won awards whilst attending the conference.

Professor Sally Roberts won the ICRS Lifetime Award for her contribution to research in the field. Dr Timothy Hopkins was also awarded a poster prize, titled ‘The initial development of a synovial joint on a chip model’.

Teresa Jones, Head of Research, said: “It was lovely to see all the hard work of our team being celebrated at such a prestigious event. Thank you and well done to all those that attended.”

Pictured (from left to right): Tim Hopkins (PhD), Mr Paul Jermin, Mr Pete Gallacher, Larissa Rix (PhD Student), Prof Martyn Snow, Charlotte Hulme (PhD), Jade Perry (PhD), Tian Lan (PhD Student), Karina Wright (PhD).