Osteoarthritis of the hip is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders and gives rise to a large level of disability, carrying a significant burden for individuals' quality of life, society and healthcare provision systems. The research will develop novel image-processing techniques to identify pelvis shapes at highest risk of developing OA. Early diagnosis is essential for successful intervention, and we will provide practical techniques for automating this task using computed tomography (CT) images of the pelvis. We will achieve this by modelling the shape of the pelvis and classifying shapes at risk of early-onset osteoarthritis. To infer shapes at risk, we will exploit a set of two-hundred CT scans that have been annotated by medics.

Clinical trials provide important evidence to improve patient care. There are two main types of trials, patient randomised controlled trials (RCT) and cluster randomised trials (CRT). The main difference between the two is that in an RCT individuals are randomly allocated to receive an intervention (e.g. drug A or drug B). However, in a CRT a whole group of people (e.g. hospital ward) are randomised, for example, one ward receives drug A and another receives drug B. In an RCT a patient is provided with information about the trial, including potential risks, with their informed consent being sought before taking part. Existing CRT guidance make provision for waiver of consent for the intervention in trials where consent would not be feasible and pose no more than minimal risk to participants. Approaches to consent in CRTs depend upon what is being investigated and at what level. For example, when the intervention is a public health message shown on media formats (e.g. TV, Radio, newspaper adverts, social media) informed consent is not sought because as all members of the community would receive the intervention anyway. A waiver of consent is therefore used. Health care interventions given to an individual person (e.g. a drugs or vaccine) could in principle be evaluated using a RCT with informed consent sought. However, a CRT involving a waiver of consent may be designed due practical, or cost concerns. Although a CRT with a waiver of consent may seem an appropriate design, both the choice of a cluster randomised design and waiver of consent must be justified; particularly as CRTs involve larger patient samples than RCTs, are less efficient and more prone to bias. Historically CRT guidance has been derived from 'expert' professional opinion without insight into patient and public perspectives. This is an oversight as without such insight there is a risk that current recruitment and consent processes may not be in line with the needs and perspectives of patients and family members. For example, we don't know if patients find it acceptable to be entered into an individual CRT without their consent. The need for insight into patient and public perspectives is particularly important in CRTs involving vulnerable populations, such as children and neonates. CRTs in these populations are relatively new and have specific ethical and consent issues related to patient and parental decision making capacity, which may vary by setting (e.g. surgical or emergency CRTs). There is a need to explore patient/family and public perspectives on CRTs involving such vulnerable populations to ensure future CRTs are ethically appropriate and conducted in a way that considers the needs of children and their families. The proposed study is novel. In CRTs involving children and neonates we urgently need to know: 1. What are the most appropriate approaches to recruitment and consent in CRTs? 2. How should researchers consult with patients and the public about recruitment and consent (or waiver of consent) in CRTs and adapt such processes for different types of trials or patient populations? 3. Given these views, how should guidance for CRTs be formulated? Our 30 month project will use established social science research methods, including scoping review, interviews, focus groups and an online survey to help answer these important questions. Focussing on paediatric and neonatal settings, our research will include those who do and do not have trial participation experience. We will analyse data collected with consideration of ethical principles (such as respect for persons, respect for persons, beneficence and justice) and the research ethics literature to make recommendations on approaches to recruitment and consent in future CRTs in these populations. To help ensure this work is internationally relevant, the final stages will include an evaluation of draft guidance involving the public and international experts on CRTs.

Public opinion on complex scientific topics can have dramatic effects on industrial sectors (e.g. GM crops, fracking, global warming). In order to realise the industrial and societal benefits of Autonomous Systems, they must be trustworthy by design and default, judged both through objective processes of systematic assurance and certification, and via the more subjective lens of users, industry, and the public. To address this and deliver it across the Trustworthy Autonomous Systems (TAS) programme, the UK Research Hub for TAS (TAS-UK) assembles a team that is world renowned for research in understanding the socially embedded nature of technologies. TASK-UK will establish a collaborative platform for the UK to deliver world-leading best practices for the design, regulation and operation of 'socially beneficial' autonomous systems which are both trustworthy in principle, and trusted in practice by individuals, society and government. TAS-UK will work to bring together those within a broader landscape of TAS research, including the TAS nodes, to deliver the fundamental scientific principles that underpin TAS; it will provide a focal point for market and society-led research into TAS; and provide a visible and open door to engage a broad range of end-users, international collaborators and investors. TAS-UK will do this by delivering three key programmes to deliver the overall TAS programme, including the Research Programme, the Advocacy & Engagement Programme, and the Skills Programme. The core of the Research Programme is to amplify and shape TAS research and innovation in the UK, building on existing programmes and linking with the seven TAS nodes to deliver a coherent programme to ensure coverage of the fundamental research issues. The Advocacy & Engagement Programme will create a set of mechanisms for engagement and co-creation with the public, public sector actors, government, the third sector, and industry to help define best practices, assurance processes, and formulate policy. It will engage in cross-sector industry and partner connection and brokering across nodes. The Skills Programme will create a structured pipeline for future leaders in TAS research and innovation with new training programmes and openly available resources for broader upskilling and reskilling in TAS industry.