Interdisciplinary leadership for stronger, active bodies

Professor of Musculoskeletal Health, Jo Adams, is leading the Institute for Life Sciences FortisNet initiative.

FortisNet, a world-class, interdisciplinary partnership combining expertise from academia, the clinic, industry and stakeholders, fosters collaborative research and product development to help build stronger bones, heal fractures, replace lost limbs, prevent injury and enhance recovery.

Professor Adams has an established international reputation for engaging the people and organisations who use research in clinical trial design, and leads the Patient and Public Involvement for the Arthritis Research UK Centre of Excellence for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis.

Through FortisNet, and shared research interests in helping patients live with arthritis, Professor Adams has nominated Canadian colleague, Professor Catherine Backman from the University of British Columbia, for a Diamond Jubilee International Visiting Fellowship, hosted by the Faculty of Health Sciences.

IfLS Director, Professor Peter JS Smith said, “We are honoured that Jo has accepted the role of FortisNet Director. Her enthusiasm and commitment to engaging patients and clinical stakeholders in research are outstanding.

Jo’s international collaborations, exemplified by the appointment of Professor Backman, will expand the network and increase our opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration overseas.”

Professor Adams commented, “It is my privilege to take on the leadership of FortisNet. The network has already established outstanding academic, industrial and clinical collaborations placing us in an excellent position to translate and implement the research conducted at Southampton. I look forward to further developing the inclusion of patients and service users, helping us to develop and disseminate our research.”