People or groups who are affected by or have an interest in a project or organisation but are not directly part of it. They may influence or be influenced by its outcomes. Examples include patients, patient advocacy groups, funders, regulatory bodies, or partner organisations.

People or groups who are directly involved in or part of an organisation or project. They have a direct role in decision-making, operations, or outcomes. Examples include team members, researchers, managers, and employees.

Ongoing assessment of treatment risks.

The ability of the test to identify the presence of a disease correctly.

A severe or life-threatening medical problem during a study.

A collaborative process in which clinicians and patients make healthcare decisions together, integrating clinical evidence and patient preferences.

On a graph, the way data is distributed may or may not be symmetric. When one side of the graph stretches further from the centre than the other, this asymmetry is called a skew.

A process of identifying how a person’s social experiences affect their emotional well-being and their experience of physical pain. Examples of social experiences include support from family or friends, difficulties at work, or challenges in daily roles. Profiling social situations that increase stress, loneliness, or feelings of being unsupported allows healthcare teams to better tailor support, strengthen helpful social connections, and reduce the impact of social stress on pain.

The ability of the test to identify the absence of a disease or illness correctly.

Individuals or groups who influence or are affected by a project.

Grouping patients based on shared characteristics.

Number of swollen joints.

Studying how different biological systems interact together.

Chemically produced drugs that target specific molecules involved in inflammation (for example JAK inhibitors).

Prevent certain immune cells from becoming fully activated.

A cell belonging to the immune system. Also called “T-lymphocyte”.

Number of painful joints.

Block a protein called tumour necrosis factor (TNF), which drives inflammation.

Blood tests measuring liver health.

Moving discoveries from laboratory research into patient care.

Primary: lack of response to initial therapy. Secondary: loss of response after an initial successful treatment.

A type of radiation-free imaging that uses high sound waves to see soft tissue, organs, and blood flow inside your body.

Research confirming that a tool or test works accurately in different patient groups.

A healthcare approach that emphasizes maximizing patient outcomes relative to costs, focusing on effective and efficient care.

A defined group of related tasks within a large research project. Each work package focuses on a specific objective (for example: data collection, AI development, clinical validation, patient involvement).