معرفی
Dr. Fiona Watt is a Reader in Rheumatology at the Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, having joined in May 2021 after previously working at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology (both during its Imperial tenure and at Oxford). Her research centers on osteoarthritis—the most common form of arthritis—using translational approaches including cohort studies, experimental medicine, and clinical trials to improve diagnostics and treatments.
Dr. Watt completed her PhD at Imperial College London. Prior to her current role, she spent eight years at the University of Oxford's Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology and had earlier worked at the Kennedy Institute when it was part of Imperial College London.
Her primary research focuses on post-traumatic osteoarthritis (arising from joint injuries) as a model to understand broader osteoarthritis progression, aiming to develop predictive tools and preventative strategies. She emphasizes translational pathways to convert research findings into clinical applications for improved patient outcomes.
Scientific awards and honors:
- UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship
Dr. Watt's research is primarily funded through her UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, targeting post-traumatic osteoarthritis mechanisms. She actively contributes to arthritis research through leadership roles in Versus Arthritis, including chairing a research advisory group and membership in two Versus Arthritis Centres of Excellence. She also serves on the MRC's Experimental Medicine Panel.
Dr. Watt collaborates extensively through Versus Arthritis networks, particularly within the Centre for Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis and the Centre for Sports, Exercise and Osteoarthritis, fostering interdisciplinary research on disease mechanisms and lifestyle interventions.
