PhD Opportunity – Multimorbidity Doctoral Training Programme: Addressing Multimorbidity to Promote Physical Activity & Healthy Ageing in Osteoarthritis Requiring Arthroplasty
This is a University of St Andrews Research Project available within the Multimorbidity PhD Programme for Healthcare Professionals, a programme supported by Wellcome Trust and delivered by the Universities of Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh and St Andrews. This programme aims to create a generation of innovative world-leading researchers empowered with expertise in multimorbidity to prevent the condition and better treat those who are already suffering with it.
Project Title:
Addressing Multimorbidity to Promote Physical Activity & Healthy Ageing in Osteoarthritis Requiring Arthroplasty: The AMPHORA Project
A multidisciplinary clinical and health data science collaboration with Scotland’s National Orthopaedic Treatment Centres
Supervisor(s):
Dr Phil Walmsley, School of Medicine (University of St Andrews)
Prof Peter Donnelly, School of Medicine (University of St Andrews)
Mr Andrew J Hall, School of Medicine (University of St Andrews)
Deadline:
14 September 2025
Project Description:
Osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with an increased risk and severity of comorbid conditions such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, systemic inflammation, obesity, and polypharmacy. Broader effects include physical inactivity, psychological harm, economic hardship, and disability, all of which may drive unhealthy ageing, a reduced quality of life, and an increasing burden on health and social care services and the wider economy.
Patients awaiting joint replacement surgery are living with increasing levels of multimorbidity characterised by greater musculoskeletal disease complexity, more numerous co-morbid conditions, physical deconditioning including sarcopenia and cardiovascular decline, and poor mental health. This may result in more complex surgical admissions, technically demanding procedures, more perioperative complications, and a decreased capacity to recover satisfactory pre-morbid function.
Little is known about the effects of multimorbidity on clinical outcomes, patients’ capacity for recovery, and their potential for healthy ageing, and there is no robust approach to early diagnosis or prevention, risk prediction or mitigation. The AMPHORA project aims to characterise and address the needs of this large patient group to avert a crisis of inter-generational health inequity in the 21st century.
Duration of Award:
3 years
All Further Information:
Please find further information related to this PhD opportunity according to the following links, which will take you to the relevant sections of the Multimorbidity PhD Programme for Healthcare Professionals official website:
- Overall programme information: Please click here.
- Application dates: Please click here.
- Funding information: Please click here.
- Entry requirements: Please click here.
- Application portal: Please click here.
- Other available University of St Andrews projects under this programme: Please click here.
Enquiries:
Please email the relevant supervisor(s) linked above with any enquiries related directly to the project.
Please email [email protected] if you have any further enquiries about the application process.