Members of BackCare's Research Committee
Dr Charles Pither,new chair of the committee, has worked both as a researcher and clinician in the area of pain management since he qualified as a doctor in 1977. Charles is currently medical director of the Real Health Institute which specialises in pain management programmes for people with back pain and other musculoskeletal problems.
Dr Michael Adams
is a reader in spinal biomechanics at Bristol University. One of Mike’s main research interests is intervertebral disc degeneration. Information about this condition can be found on page 43 of this issue of Talkback.
Mr Alan Gardner
is a BackCare trustee and chair of both BackCare’s education committee and ‘Protecting Young Backs’ Campaign. Alan, a retired spinal surgeon from Essex, also provides answers to some of the many letters sent into BackCare.
Professor Elaine Hay,
professor of community rheumatology at Keele University, recently joined the committee. Elaine is director of the Primary Care Musculoskeletal Trials Unit where she and her team continue to produce an incredible amount of research, including some of the large randomised controlled trials in the area of back pain.
Professor Malcolm Jayson,
BackCare trustee and previous chair of the committee, is retired from working as a rheumatologist in the NHS but still actively involved in many areas of research and clinical work.
Dr Tamar Pincus, a reader in psychology at Royal Holloway University of London, recently joined the committee. BackCare has funded a number of research projects from Tamar, two of which are mentioned on the next page.
Dr Lisa Roberts,
BackCare trustee, is senior lecturer at the University of Southampton with research interests predominantly in back pain and communication between patients and health care professionals. One of Lisa’s latest research achievements is featured on page 7 of this issue of Talkback.
Greg Sharp,
an osteopath with his own practice in Colchester, is an active advocate for osteopathy and various other initiatives, including pilot projects to get osteopathy in an NHS setting. Until recently, Greg was also a BackCare trustee for five years.
Ann Thomson,
BackCare trustee, is director of postgraduate physiotherapy studies at University College London. Besides her work for BackCare, Ann also sits on the council of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.