Martin Thomas

Biography

Dr Thomas graduated in Physiotherapy from the University of Liverpool in 2007 and also holds a BSc (Hons) in Human Movement Science (University of Liverpool) and MSc in Sport Psychology (Liverpool John Moores University). Martin came to Keele in 2009 to undertake a doctorate in Clinical Epidemiology. His doctoral studies on the classification, diagnosis and outcomes of midfoot osteoarthritis were awarded the Arthritis Research UK Silver Medal Research Prize in Musculoskeletal Medicine for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals.

Martin works clinically as an Honorary Specialist Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist for the Haywood Hospital, Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

Research and scholarship

Martin’s research interests are the clinical epidemiology and primary care management of common musculoskeletal conditions, with a particular interest in osteoarthritis. His primary focus is in leading and developing observational studies to examine osteoarthritis flares. He also contributes to longitudinal cohort studies and clinical trials of foot osteoarthritis and plantar heel pain and a programme of research on child and adolescent musculoskeletal pain. His work has been funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme, Programme Grant for Applied Research (with Versus Arthritis joint-funding), Research for Patient Benefit Programme, School for Primary Care Research and a Health Education England/NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic Clinical Lectureship.

Martin’s supervision includes PhD, Professional Doctorate, intercalated medical MPhil, and Integrated clinical academic physiotherapy students. He developed and runs Keele University’s first pre-registration Integrated Clinical Academic physiotherapy elective student placement. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed publications, held five personal fellowships and contributed to over £6 million in fellowship/grant income. Martin has current and active research collaborations with researchers in Melbourne, Boston and across the UK.

Teaching

Martin leads a postgraduate module in the School of Medicine on Statistics and Epidemiology. He also facilitates sessions on Keele’s ‘Prognosis Research: Concepts, Methods and Clinical Application’ course.

Further information

Current internal responsibilities

• Deputy lead, Centre for Musculoskeletal Health Research
• Member, Data Custodian and Academic Proposal Committee, Keele School of Medicine
• Member, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Research Ethics committee

Current external responsibilities

• Steering group member, International Foot and Ankle Osteoarthritis Consortium
• Member, Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Osteoarthritis Flares in Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis Working Group
• Member, Versus Arthritis Musculoskeletal Disorders Research Advisory Group
• Member, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Charitable Trust Scientific Panel
• Editorial Board member, Journal of Foot and Ankle Research

Previous external responsibilities

• Editorial Board member, Arthritis Care & Research
• Previous chair of the Physiotherapy Research Society