Take Part in Research or Complete a Survey

In addition to funding arthritis research, Arthritis New Zealand also supports researchers who are undertaking important studies on arthritis that require participants. This page provides links and information to a wide range of projects currently being carried out throughout Aotearoa New Zealand which invite members of the public to complete surveys, participate in research-related activities or attend in-person sessions with the researchers themselves.

Please contact the Research Manager Dr Richard Griffiths by filling in the form below if you would like Arthritis New Zealand to list your research project on this page.   

Research projects requiring participants:

Do you have a mobility impairment? Have you ever experienced issues accessing public buildings? – Respondents are invited to participate in a survey

For more information, please contact: Margaret Stefanitsis, PhD Candidate, Massey University 

 Phone: 09 521 1223 or 021 292 2481

Email: masseystudent7956@gmail.com

 This project has been evaluated by peer review and judged to be low risk. Consequently, it has not been

reviewed by one of the University’s Human Ethics Committees. The researcher is responsible for the ethical conduct of this research.

If you have any concerns about the conduct of this research that you want to raise with someone other than the researcher, please contact Massey University’s Research Ethics Office, email: humanethics@massey.ac.nz.

Please click on the ‘More Information’ button below to access the survey and the Informed Consent details for Margaret’s study:

Do you need to get your gout under control?

For more information, please contact:

If you live in Auckland: Harriet (Ngāti Whātua, Te Roroa, Ngāpuhi), Research Nurse or Dr Anne, Research Doctor

Phone: 021 0849 6887

Email: easyallo@auckland.ac.nz

Please click on the button below to access the study website to find out more about the study: Auckland

If you live in Christchurch: Jill Drake or Janine Haslett, Research Nurses

Phone: 021 0849 6753

Email: research.rheum@cdhb.health.nz

Please click on the button below to access the study website to find out more about the study: Christchurch

This study has received ethics approval, Reference HDEC 2022 FULL 13478

Do you have Rheumatoid Arthritis? Participants are required for an Auckland Study

For more information, please contact: Libby Anderson, Honours Student, Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

Email: nqg0551@autuni.ac.nz

Phone: 022 308 7780

This study has been approved by the AUT Ethics Committee on 05/08/2024, ref number 24/192

Please click on the button below to download a copy of the Participant Information Sheet:

Do you have gout and are you 20 years or older? – Participants are required for Auckland research study

For more information, please contact: Mia Clarke, Research Officer, Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

Phone: 022 409 9343

Email: gout.research@aut.ac.nz

This study has been approved by the Auckland University of Technology Ethics Committee on 15.05.2024 AUTEC Reference number 24/72.

Please click on the button below to access the study website where you can download a copy of the Participant Information Sheet: 

Do you have knee osteoarthritis in one knee, and have trouble with walking? – Participants are required for a Dunedin research study

For more information, please contact: Sarfaraz Alam, PhD Candidate, Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research (CHARR), School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago 

Phone: 029 0206 4380 

Email: sarfaraz.alam@postgrad.otago.ac.nz 

This study has been approved by the Health and Disability Ethics Committee (HDEC) reference: 2024 EXP 19143.

The trial has also been prospectively registered with ANZCTR: ACTRN12624000157572p, where further details may be found about the study design.

Please click on the button below to access the study website where you can download a copy of the Participant Information Sheet and also complete an online screening form to find out if you are eligible to take part: 

Are you living with long-term health issues or injuries that include conditions like arthritis, stroke, chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, heart disease, etc.? Have you ever accessed rehabilitation and/or have a view on telerehabilitation? Do you want to improve telerehabilitation in Aotearoa New Zealand?  

For more information, please contact one of the study’s project managers: Sandy Rutherford, AUT Centre for Person Centred Research or Erina Korohina (Ngāti Porou), Manawaora, The Centre for Health. 

Phone: Sandy – 021 713 645 or Erina – 07 578 6624 

Email: sandy.rutherford@aut.ac.nz or hello@thecentreforhealth.co.nz

 This study has been approved by the AUT Ethics Committee on 16/6/2023, AUTEC Reference number 22/355. 

 Please click on the Telerehabilitation Information Booklet button below to find out more about the study:

Are you aged between 18 and 85 years old and have been told your gout is not controlled? Participants from the Auckland, Waikato, Rotorua, Wellington, and Christchurch regions are invited to participate in the Gout-Related EURELIA 2 Study

For more information, please contact: The Pacific Clinical Research Network New Zealand

Phone: 0800 727 669  

 Email: info@pcrn.co.nz

 This study has been approved by the Central Health and Disability Ethics Committees on 4th July 2023. Reference number 2023 AM 13920.

 Please click on the button below to find out more about the study:

Do you have early Osteoarthritis? Auckland participants are required

For more information, please contact: Dr Rebecca Meiring, Principal Investigator.

Email: rebecca.meiring@auckland.ac.nz

This study has been approved by the Health and Disability Ethics Committee on 11/09/2020 for three years and continuing. Reference number 20/CEN/200. 

Please click on the button below to find out more about the study and to also access the associated Participant Information Sheet and Consent Form: 

Do you experience persistent shoulder pain? If yes, there is an opportunity to join a research stakeholder group for a new study funded by the Health Research Council.

This study has been approved by the Health & Disability Ethics Committees on 04/12/2023, reference number 2023 FULL 18871.

Please contact Professor Gisela Sole, University of Otago

Email: shoulder@otago.ac.nz or

Telephone: 03 479 7466 for more information.

Do you have inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis, or Lupus? What do you think great peer support should look like? Respondents are required for a new survey.

For more information, please contact: Dr Susan Gee, Senior Researcher, Burwood Academy Trust, Christchurch.

Phone: 027 383 7586.

Email: susan.gee@burwood.org.nz.

This study has been approved by the University of Otago Human Ethics Committee (Health) on 31/1/2022, reference number H22/009.

Please click on the “Survey Link” button below to find out more about the study:

Please click on the Participant Information Sheet button below to find out more about the study:

Do you suffer from low back pain or work/engage with people who experience low back pain? New Zealand participants are required for an Australian-based study – Round 2

For more information, please contact the study’s Project Manager at the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Musculoskeletal Health and Wiser Health Care Units, Monash University, Australia: email: bayden.mckenzie@monash.edu.

This study has ethics approval through the Human Research Ethics Committee at Monash University (MUHREC Approval No: 39106).

Please click on the “Survey Link” button below to participate in the study:

Please click on the Participant Information Sheet button below to find out more about the study:

Have you been diagnosed by a rheumatologist with inflammatory arthritis (e.g. rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis)? Have you been prescribed oral methotrexate within the past six months? And are you aged 18 years or older? Participants from the Auckland area are required

For more information, please contact: Dr Rachel Murdoch, Senior Lecturer, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland:

Phone: 09 923 4139

Email: rachel.murdoch@auckland.ac.nz

This study has been approved by the Central Health and Disability Ethics Committee on 25/8/2023, reference number 2023 EXP 18153.

Please click on the button below to find out more about the study and to also access the associated Participant Information Sheet:

Do you suffer from knee pain? Have you ever been told you have knee osteoarthritis? And are you between 45-85 years of age? Participants from the Dunedin area are required  

For more information, please contact the study’s Project Manager at the School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin: Phone: 0800 687 489 or email: mintstudy@otago.ac.nz.

If you are a Māori participant and interested in the study, please contact the study’s Māori investigator: Dr Sharon Awatere (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu), email: Sharonawa74@gmail.com or TXT: 0211 836 894.

This study has been reviewed and approved by the Health and Disability Ethics Committee (HDEC). 2021 EXP 11367.

Check your eligibility to participate in the study: https://otago.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dbwxcF5xwcjRJsO.

Please click on the button below to find out more about the study and also access the associated Participant Information Sheets:

Have you recently changed from Humira to Amgevita? Survey participants with arthritis are required   

For more information, please contact Chiara Gasteiger, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland  

Email: chiara.g@auckland.ac.nz  

This study has been approved by the Auckland Health Research Ethics Committee (AHREC) on 17/11/2022 for three years (reference number: AH25083). 

Please click on the button below to participate in the survey and also access a copy of the Participant Information Sheet:    

Do You Have CPPD (Pseudogout)? – Participants are required for two surveys

For more information, please contact Dr. Yiling Zhang, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Auckland

Email: yzha484@aucklanduni.ac.nz

This study has been approved by the Auckland Health Research Ethics Committee on 27/09/2021 for three years. Reference number AH23039

Please click on the buttons below to learn more about and also participate in the two surveys:

Do you have a child/children who has sleeping problems and a long-term health condition?

For more information, please contact Associate Professor Laurie McLay, Te Kaupeka Oranga – Faculty of Health, University of Canterbury

Phone: (03) 369 3522

Email: laurie.mclay@canterbury.ac.nz

This study has received ethical approval from the University of Canterbury Human Ethics Committee (Reference: HEC 2017/71/LR-PS).

Please click on the button below to download the Participant Information Sheet to find out more about the study:

To take part in the survey, please click on the button below:

Are you at risk of gout? Study participants from Auckland and Christchurch are needed

High urate levels in the blood (hyperuricemia) are the most important cause of gout, a common and painful form of inflammatory arthritis. However, it is currently unclear why some people with high urate levels develop gout and others do not.

The University of Auckland and the University of Otago are running a long-term study of people with high urate levels which will help us understand what predicts the development of gout.

Participation will involve attending two 90-minute visits, one at the beginning and a second one five years later. At each study visit, we will ask you to complete some questions about your health, assess your height and weight, examine your joints for tenderness and swelling, assess your walking, collect urine and blood samples to test your urate levels, creatinine (kidney function) and CRP (a marker of inflammation) and, if you agree, to look at your DNA. Ultrasound scans and x-rays of your feet and knees will also be taken.

You may be eligible for this study if you:
• Live in Auckland or Christchurch
• Are 18 years old or older
• Have high blood urate levels and/or a family history of gout

This study has been approved by the Health and Disability Ethics Committee (MEC/05/10/130).

For more information, please click on the following buttons if you live in either of those regions:

Do you have knee osteoarthritis, are 45 years or older and have had ongoing knee pain for 3 months or longer? – Auckland participants required

For more information, please contact David Toomey, PhD candidate, Lecturer – Physiotherapy, Auckland University of Technology. School of Clinical Sciences

Phone: 021 0843 5809

Email: david.toomey@aut.ac.nz

This study has received ethical approval from the Health and Disability Ethics Committee (Ref# 21/STH/129)

Please click on the button below to download the Participant Information Sheet to find out more about the study:

Have you been diagnosed with gout and are currently taking allopurinol? Do you also have a smart phone and are over 18 years? Study participants are required

For more information and a copy of the Participant Information Sheet, please contact Yasaman Emad, PhD Candidate, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland.

Email: y.emad@auckland.ac.nz

This study has been approved by the Auckland Health Research Ethics Committee on [23/11/2021] for three years. Reference number [AH23037].

Please click on the button below to download the Participant Information Sheet.

Have you had regular, moderate or severe pain for 3 months or longer caused by any type of arthritis or fibromyalgia? Auckland Participants Required

For more information, please contact trials@exsurgo.com  

This study has received ethical approval from the Central Heath and Disability Ethics Committee (Ref#21/CEN/98).

Does a child or young person in your family/whānau have Lupus/SLE?

Auckland Participants Required

For more information, please contact Dr Julie Blamires (Lecturer in Nursing, Auckland University of Technology)

Phone: 021 238 7275 | Email: julie.blamires@aut.ac.nz

This study has been approved by the AUT and ADHB ethics committees (AUTEC#21/355 and A+938).

Please click on the button below to download the Parent and/or Other Family Member Participant Information Sheet (you can also email or phone Dr Blamires if you would like to see the study consent forms and the three other participant information sheets for participants aged 10-14 years old, under 16 years and over 16 years).

Do you have a child with juvenile idiopathic arthritis? Parents are invited to complete two short surveys on the use of complementary and alternative medicines

For more information, please contact Angharad Hurley (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago (Christchurch))

Email: angharad.hurley@otago.ac.nz

This study has been approved by the University of Otago Human Ethics Committee (Health). Ethics approval number H21/028

Please click on the following link to download the survey invitation (which is comprised of participant information sheets, electronic consent forms, etc.)

Do you have early Osteoarthritis? – Auckland Participants Required

For more information, please contact Dr. Rebecca Meiring

Email: rebecca.meiring@auckland.ac.nz.

This study has been approved by the Health and Disability Ethics Committee on 11/09/2020 for three years. Reference number 20/CEN/200.

Have you ever been involved as a consumer/patient research partner in musculoskeletal research in Aotearoa New Zealand? – Participants Required

For more information, please contact Kealey-Rei Sanford

Phone: 027 869 7321 | Email: sanke638@student.otago.ac.nz

This project has received ethics approval by University of Otago Human Ethics Committee reference: D20/362

The Opti-OK Clinical Trial – Dunedin Participants Required

For more information, please contact Dr Cathy Chapple

Phone: (03) 479 5235 | Email: cathy.chapple@otago.ac.nz

This study has been approved by Health and Disability Ethics Committees and is funded by the Stanley Paris Research Fellowship. Ethics Reference: 21/STH/81.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trial – Christchurch Participants Required

For more information, please contact NZCR on 0800 862 278 or recruiter@nzcr.co.nz

This study has been approved by the Northern A Ethics Committee (June 2021).

Have Your Say: Public Transport Survey to Help Develop a “Ride Share” App for the Disability Community

A group of Aucklanders who have different disabilities are currently exploring the feasibility of starting their own “ride share” app to provide a transport service for the wider Auckland disability community, which is ultimately accessible, respectful and safe for all potential customers to use. As part of the consultation process, the group are inviting people who the proposed service would potentially support to complete a short 5-10 minute online survey. Questions relate to the types of transport services people currently use, their frequency of use, their past and present transport experiences, barriers to better/safer journeys and how they might use a service like the one being proposed.

The types of respondents we would love to hear from include people with arthritis, blind and/or low vision, wheel and powerchair users or people who have had a stroke, epilepsy or other kinds of disabilities or conditions which affect their mobility and quality of life.

For more information, please email: barneysbiz25@gmail.com

The ROAM Study (Research Osteoarthritis and Greenshell Mussells)

How Arthritis May Have Impacted an Individual’s Way of Using Hair Dryers Survey

Measuring Physical Activity in People with Osteoarthritis

The University of Auckland is seeking adults aged 40 – 80 years of age who have been diagnosed
with mild knee or hip osteoarthritis to participate in a research study.

For further information, please contact Dr Rebecca Meiring on 09-923-4815.

Download the Participation Information Sheet here.

Osteoarthritis Research

Knee Osteoarthritis Research

Psoriatic Arthritis clinical study

COVID-19 and Stress Study

Are you 18 years or older and live in New Zealand?

Your contribution will help us understand how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the physical and mental wellbeing of New Zealanders.

This will involve:

• Completing an online survey (about 10-15 mins)• Completing an online survey (about 10-15 mins)

• Collecting and storing a small sample of your hair (optional)

You’ll be asked to do the survey 3 times: today, 12 weeks later and when the government changes its social distancing measures. You’ll be asked to take 2 hair samples: today and in 12 weeks. This is optional. 

Click here for more information

Research team
Professor Elizabeth Broadbent and Norina Gasteiger: covidstudynz@gmail.com

This project is a collaboration between the University of Auckland, the University of Nottingham and Kings College London. The UK team is led by Professor Kavita Vedhara.