This week in the Research Room, we are joined by Consultant Hand Surgeons Emma Reay and Nick Johnson to get the full story on the SCOOTT project (Surgery versus Conservative Osteoarthritis Of Thumb Trial). This ambitious three-armed study explores a critical question: is the newer joint replacement, a traditional trapeziectomy (bone removal) or enhanced non-surgical care the best way to ease the pain of thumb arthritis.

We discuss why treatment varies so widely across the UK, the "mini hip replacement" for your hand, and the importance of gathering evidence for new surgical trends. Plus, find out how the SCOOTT acronym fared in our resident rating system!

Resources from this episode:

Find out more about the SCOOTT project here: https://www.scoott-trial.com/

Thumb replacement:

Music by Matthew Bailey

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to run a clinical trial? This week in The Research Room, we kick off 2026 by going behind the scenes of the York Trials Unit (YTU). We are joined by Director Professor Catherine Hewitt and Deputy Director Dr. Jude Watson to discover exactly what a trials unit does and why trials are so important.

From the history of the unit to the importance of the "Gold Standard" Randomised Control Trial, Catherine and Jude explain how their multidisciplinary team improves patient care one study at a time. Whether you are an aspiring researcher or simply interested in how research improves patient care, this episode reveals the teamwork behind the science.

Resources from this episode:

Find out more about York Trials Unit here: https://www.york.ac.uk/healthsciences/research/trials/

Music by Matthew Bailey

The tables have turned at The Research Room! For our 2025 Christmas Special, Emma Standley takes the mic as guest host, putting us in the hot seat for a change. Join us as we reflect on our favorite highlights from the past year and share the behind-the-scenes story of how this podcast journey began. Stick around for some festive fun as we talk holiday traditions and reveal the strangest gifts we’ve ever seen.

Plus, get a sneak peek at the exciting projects we have in store for 2026!

Merry Christmas from The Research Room!

Music by Matthew Bailey