Building specialist imaging expertise to accelerate inflammatory arthritis research

Inflammatory arthritis research increasingly relies on advanced imaging techniques, including musculoskeletal ultrasound and ultrasound-guided synovial biopsy, to support disease stratification, tissue-based research and the development of personalised treatments. A shortage of clinicians and allied health professionals trained in these specialist procedures can limit research capacity and delivery.

Developing specialist imaging expertise

Since joining the Birmingham Rheumatology Research Group in 2018, physiotherapist and sonographer Mark Maybury has developed into a nationally and internationally recognised trainer in musculoskeletal ultrasound and ultrasound-guided synovial biopsy. Supported by funding from the NIHR BRC: Birmingham, he was trained to perform ultrasound-guided synovial biopsies, helping expand Birmingham’s capacity to deliver tissue-based inflammatory arthritis research and recruit patients into translational studies.

Training the next generation

In addition to utilising his skills in research cohorts and clinical trials, Mark now plays a leading role in workforce development. Within our BRC, he provides ultrasound training for clinical fellows – three of which have since achieved postgraduate ultrasound qualifications – and delivers cross-theme training in ultrasound-guided synovial biopsy techniques.

Sharing expertise worldwide

More widely, he serves as faculty member on the EULAR Synovial Biopsy Course, the British Society for Rheumatology Ultrasound Special Interest Group, and the British Medical Ultrasound Society’s Musculoskeletal Special Interest Group. He is also an examiner for UK postgraduate musculoskeletal ultrasound programmes, and delivers international training courses in the UK, Spain, Switzerland and Australia.

“One of the many reasons that attracted me to move into this research post at this institution was the opportunity to learn, and during my time at the BRC: Birmingham I have been given the opportunity for personal development and involvement in research. As well as learning myself, I’ve also had the opportunity to work alongside some of the UK’s and worlds top clinical academics, and to pass on my knowledge.”

Mark Maybury

Impact on inflammatory arthritis research

The impact extends beyond individual career progression. The BRC’s investment has increased local research capacity, strengthened national and international training programmes and demonstrated how allied health professionals can contribute to highly specialised translational research. Through training, mentorship and research delivery, Mark is helping build the skilled workforce needed to expand tissue-based research and accelerate the development of more personalised treatments for inflammatory arthritis and related conditions.

Looking ahead

The next phase of this work focuses on embedding and spreading the expertise developed through the BRC: Birmingham. Mark is leading efforts to publish Birmingham’s training approach for ultrasound-guided synovial biopsies, with the aim of enabling other centres to develop appropriately trained allied health professionals and increase national research capacity.

He is also undertaking additional training in lymph node biopsy techniques through the Lymph Node Research UK network, and collaborating internationally on research exploring ultrasound-guided localisation of lymph nodes in inflammatory disease. Alongside this, he will continue to support imaging and biopsy training for BRC-funded fellows and contribute to national and international educational programmes through organisations including EULAR and the British Society for Rheumatology.

Over the next years, these activities are expected to increase the number of clinicians and allied health professionals trained in advanced imaging and tissue-sampling techniques, strengthening research capacity across the UK. This expanded workforce will support the delivery of more translational studies, improve access to tissue-based research and accelerate the development of personalised approaches to diagnosing and treating inflammatory diseases.

A personal reflection

Mark said: “One of the many reasons that attracted me to move into this research post at this institution was the opportunity to learn, and during my time at the BRC: Birmingham I have been given the opportunity for personal development and involvement in research. As well as learning myself, I’ve also had the opportunity to work alongside some of the UK’s and worlds top clinical academics, and to pass on my knowledge by helping train research fellows in diagnostic ultrasound and to help develop new instrumentation for ultrasound guided synovial biopsy.

“The results of the studies I have worked on will help influence the treatment of hundreds of thousands of patients, not only in the UK but worldwide, which is more patients than I ever could ever help as a clinician. I find that a very sobering thought.”