The NIHR Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit (LMBRU) was established in 2008 as part of the NIHR infrastructure to support translational research in priority areas of high disease burden and clinical need. Through this funding, LMBRU has been awarded £13 million based on the strong collaborative links and the foundations of excellence in musculoskeletal research activities in Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) and the University of Leeds, with musculoskeletal diseases a priority research area for both organisations.