Surgical Specialty Leads for Clinical Trials

The BOA is delighted to continue to sponsor ‘Surgical Specialty Leads’ for trauma and orthopaedics. 

The Surgical Specialty Leads are positions coordinated through the RCSEngland and the aim is for them to act as a conduit for clinicians interested in developing trials and to provide a forum for discussion of proposals that can be processed through appropriate funding bodies. They will each chair a clinical research group to help develop new trials in their field. The three appointees will work collaborative with the BOA, with our funded clinical trials unit and with other stakeholder individuals to make progress in supporting development of research and trial.

Mr Peter Hutchinson, Director of Clinical Research at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, commented:

“The appointment of... surgical speciality leads in Orthopaedics and Trauma is a fantastic development. It provides a major opportunity to broaden the spectrum of clinical research and the surgical trial portfolio. Their research will enable  important questions to answered  and improve the treatment for patients with disorders of and injury to the musculo-skeletal system.”

These positions will cost £62,500 over three years and have been funded as a result of our research fundraising. We are really grateful to all those members, donors, fundraisers and supporters, who have so generously donated and supported this work.


Associate SSL recruitment - APPLY NOW

With a vacancy in Adult Trauma and succession planning underway in Paediatrics, recruitment to the next cycle presents an exciting opportunity. We are seeking motivated, research-active surgeons who want to shape national research strategy, mentor the next generation, and build sustainable clinical trial networks.

If you are passionate about collaborative research and developing others, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact. Join us in strengthening orthopaedic research leadership and ensuring our specialty continues to lead from the front. For more information about becoming an SSL please e-mail [email protected]


Biographies for the current holders are provided below. We will be supporting them over the next three years and will provide members and donors updates on their progress and ways to get involved.

Surgical Specialty Leads

Daniel Perry image

Daniel Perry

Daniel Perry is a Professor of Children’s Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, NIHR Research Professor and a Consultant Children's Orthopaedic Surgeon at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. 
Dan has united surgeons throughout the UK and increasingly across the world, such that they are now working together to change the face of children’s research, with a research portfolio worth about £30m. Dan’s love is to make clinical trials accessible – both to children, parents and surgeons. He keenly integrates cartoons, animations, videos and text message communication to make trials easy for everyone! 
Dan is an Editor of the Bone and Joint Journal and is the clinical lead for hip screening within Public Health England.

Alex Liddle

Specialist Society Lead - Adult Elective