Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) is a key partner of Edge Hill University, with who we are developing a joint research strategy. Clare Austin serves as a Non-Executive Director at the Trust, while Chris Hughes is involved in that research committee. The partnership has supported an application to the NIHR ICAT program, focusing on musculoskeletal disease and multimorbidity.

Notably, Professor Adam Watts is leading pioneering innovations in elbow surgery. A surgical innovation developed at WWL, prompted by concerns raised by the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) group, is currently under investigation in the SOFF (Simple Olecranon Fracture Fixation Trial) and RAPSODI (Reverse or Anatomical (replacement) for Painful Shoulder Osteoarthritis: Differences between Interventions) Trials. These trials aim to reduce re-operation rates for individuals requiring surgical fixation of olecranon fractures and shoulder osteoarthritis, respectively. Surgeon education and surgical fidelity assessment are integral parts of these trials.

Additionally, there is a collaborative phase 1 study called the HAPY elbow trial (Pyrocarbon Interposition Arthoplasty of the Elbow), which involves a collaboration between Prof Adam Watts and Ben Langley, a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science. This study further contributes to advancing knowledge in the field of elbow surgery.