Who We Are
Like-minded researchers from the 58 society and the Mersey region with a passion and commitment to contributing to the evidence base in modern orthopaedics.
What We Seek to Achieve
1. Establish a positive and encouraging research culture.
2. Intra and inter-departmental research
3. Multi-hospital project(s)
4. Liaison and networking with regional research collaboratives
5. Reflections of activity on CV
6. Publications and presentations
Committee
Vishesh Khanna - Chair
An orthopaedic trainee in the Merseyside region with overseas and UK experience in trauma and orthopaedics of over a decade. He has worked throughout in busy elective and trauma centres, including those in Liverpool, Wrightington, South Wales and Dorset. He is passionate about academics, teaching, and research and has been a regular faculty at national courses on over thirty occasions. He has a PG Certificate in Surgical Education with distinction to his credit and has been awarded the coveted Braithwaite Prize from the Mersey region for outstanding performance as an ST3. He is a keen researcher and has represented his institutions internationally with over twenty indexed publications and several international presentations, many of which have been highlighted for excellence. He has a firm resolve to launch collaborative research in the North West with a vision to embark nationally with relevant projects.
Joseph Fennelly - Vice Chair
Joseph is a Specialty Registrar in Trauma and Orthopaedics within the Mersey Deanery, with a foundational background in Sports Science applied to Medicine. He has led multiple national collaborative projects, gaining recognition through international publications and presentations. Committed to advancing academic work, he actively contributes to the MAMMOTH collaborative. Additionally, Joseph is an enthusiastic educator, regularly organising revision courses that engage an international audience. Beyond his professional pursuits, he is a competitive open-water swimmer and Ironman triathlete, and he passionately explores creative outlets in painting, sculpture, and underwater photography.
Rebecca Stoner - Secretary
Graduated from Aberdeen, worked in Oxford and Surrey before moving to Mersey for Core and Higher training. Currently in training following an OOPR towards a PhD on AI predictive models in major trauma, which was part-funded by an ORUK/RCSEd fellowship, and time as a Research Fellow in London contributing to CRYOSTAT2 and ReWiRe interventional trials. Interested in developing an infrastructure of research activity across the North West to encourage more colleagues to contribute to collaborative research.
Sara Beattie - Secretary
Ben Jones - Treasurer
Graduated from Cardiff Medical School. Enjoyed playing sports at university as an active member of Cardiff Medicals RFC. Moving to Royal Liverpool Hospital for Foundation training, followed by SHO years working in Bangor and Gibraltar prior to core surgical training in Yorkshire. He has then commenced specialty training in the Mersey region. First author of publications on distal femoral fracture fixation, with ongoing research on Ankle fracture fixation at LUFT. Interested in lower limb trauma, AI in orthopaedics, novel device creation, and expanding collaboration projects across regions.
James Chapman - Statistics Officer
Graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2016 and has undertaken foundation, core and higher surgical training in Cheshire & Merseyside. He undertook an academic fellow post between CST and HST, where he was engaged in education, curriculum design and research projects. It was during this time that he developed an interest in study design and statistical analysis, resulting in winning the coveted Frostick Prize at our regional Registrar’s Day and presenting work at the BOA Best of the Best. His interest has got him involved with MAMMOTH to explore how we can set up collaborative projects to produce high-quality research that benefits not only patients but clinicians' decision-making and trainees' development into active and keen researchers.
Sam Marsden - Research Officer
Current Projects and Collaborations
UK-DRUID
Objective: To establish the incidence of Distal Radioulnar Joint (DRUJ) dislocations and to quantify radiographically confirmed DRUJ dislocations in UK hospitals over a 12-month period.
Consultant Lead: Prof D. Brown (LUHFT)
Status: Data collection in progress (21 hospital sites recruited)
CAMPS – 2B or not 2B
Objective: To assess the variability in the management of Gartland type 2 supracondylar fractures in children.
Consultant Lead: Prof D. Perry (Alder Hey)
Status: Recruiting participants in the region.
FACT 1 - Fractures of The Talus
Objective: To conduct a multi-centre, retrospective analysis of talus fractures treated over the past 10 years, leveraging a national collaborative.
Consultant Lead: Prof L. Mason (LUHFT)
Status: Data collection underway (30 hospital sites recruited)
ATTICA
A prospective observational study on Achilles tendon rupture management.
Consultant Lead: Prof L. Mason (LUHFT)
Prosthetic Joint Infection Regional MDT audit
A regional observational audit of hip and knee MDT arthroplasty, aligned with BOAST guidelines.
Data presented at weekly revision MDTs, 2022-2024
Consultant Leads: Mr Santini/ Mr Fountain (LUHFT)