Our Vision is to optimise musculoskeletal health through high quality collaborative research.
The Australia & New Zealand Musculoskeletal (ANZMUSC) Clinical Trials Network is an international, multidisciplinary, collaborative clinical trials network composed of clinicians, researchers, consumers and consumer groups, policy makers, and professional associations whom all have an interest in investigator-initiated clinical trials related to MSK conditions.
Our Mission
- To address the key research questions for musculoskeletal health
- To improve the scientific quality of musculoskeletal research and its sustainable translation into policy and practice
- To facilitate high quality musculoskeletal research with the potential to improve health outcomes
- Advocate for musculoskeletal research support
- Foster collaboration between research groups and stakeholders
- Advance the understanding of research through mentoring and education
The Global Burden of Musculoskeletal Conditions
Arthritis and MSK conditions have a large individual and societal impact. As such, there is great need for increased research capacity, funding, and focus on prioritising areas with the greatest knowledge gaps.
Our network provides opportunities for interest groups to connect across countries and disciplines, especially through Scientific Meetings, forming a strong and collaborative knowledge-base to achieve our mission.
ANZMUSC began in 2014
Plans for the ANZMUSC Clinical Trials Network began in 2014 with the formation of a small steering group. In April 2015 the steering group organised the networks’ inaugural summit in Melbourne. During the 2-day summit, over 100 attendees including clinical-researchers across a range of disciplines (physiotherapy, rheumatology, orthopaedics, health economics, biostatistics, pharmacy, geriatrics etc), clinicians, consumer representatives, policy-makers, and funders came together and agreed on the vision, mission, values and 1st year goals of the group as critical first steps towards the establishment of the network.
Since then we have held annual or biannual scientific meetings around Australia and New Zealand. We have endorsed over 32 clinical trials and awarded 16 seeding grants. We have expanded our network to over 400 individual members including 7 consumers who make up our Consumer Advisory Committee. Alongside our growth, more special interest groups have been established to cater for more focused interests. In 2018, we were awarded an NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence which was renewed in 2023. We are very grateful for this funding which has allowed us to expand our connections, supporting groundbreaking research and invest in the development of emerging leaders within the field.
We have published a paper on our development as a guide for other groups considering developing a network.
Research Methodologies
Our network extends well beyond clinical trials. We span the full research lifecycle from basic science research to translation and dissemination of clinical trial findings and implementation research. Our economic methods group supports researchers in adding value to their research through economic evaluations.
Stats we are proud of
Get involved with ANZMUSC.
Join & Connect with our network and experience the mutual benefit of being part of our group.
Join ANZMUSC
Membership benefits include professional development, networking events, and ability to apply for funding and trial endorsement.
Attend an event
Join us face-to-face or virtually at one of our upcoming events. We have one large annual scientific meeting and also advertise smaller events throughout the year.
Get in touch
Speak to us about the research we are doing, notify us of upcoming events of interest, or enquire about membership.
Centre of Research Excellence Collaborating Institutions
