TendinopathyNCT07606092
Human Tendon Tissue Collection
An observational study of Tendinopathy and Musculoskeletal Diseases or Conditions, run by Queen Mary University of London at 2 sites in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
The goal of this study is to improve understanding of tendon health and disease by using surplus tendon tissue that is routinely removed during planned orthopaedic surgeries in adults. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Tendinopathy, Musculoskeletal Diseases or Conditions, ACL Surgery
- How many people
- 400 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 4 Nov 2026to 1 Oct 2031
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Patients scheduled to undergo orthopaedic lower limb surgery at the Royal London, Whipps Cross University Hospital and the Barts Health Orthopaedic Centre in Newham.
Who may be able to join
- 18 years or older
- Scheduled to undergo orthopaedic lower limb surgery that involve tendon tissue waste
- Have provided informed consent to take part in the study
Who cannot join
- Under the age of 18
- Unable or unwilling to give informed consent (including those with limited English proficiency)
- Cases where tendon tissue is required for clinical care and therefore not surplus.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United Kingdom2 sites
Royal London Hospital
London, London, E1 1FR
Shao-Ting (Jerry) Tsang
Newham Hospital
London
Shao-Ting (Jerry) Tsang
About this study
Official title: Human Tendon Tissue Collection for In Vitro Models and Tissue Analysis
The goal of this study is to improve understanding of tendon health and disease by using surplus tendon tissue that is routinely removed during planned orthopaedic surgeries in adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- What can tendon tissue and tendon cells tell us about how healthy and diseased tendons function?
Read more
Participants will not undergo any extra procedures. Instead, researchers will use only tissue that is already being removed as part of normal surgical care and would otherwise be discarded.
Participants will:
- Be asked for permission (consent) before their surgery to donate any surplus tendon tissue.
- Have a small piece of tendon tissue (normally waste material) collected during their planned operation.
- Allow the research team to access some non-identifiable medical information (such as age, reason for surgery, and relevant medical history) to help interpret research findings.
What the researchers will do with the donated tissue:
- Isolate different types of human tendon cells.
- Build advanced laboratory cellular models to study how tendon diseases develop.
- Analyse whole tendon tissue sections to understand cell types, tissue organisation, and disease-related changes.
This study does not involve testing treatments, and it does not change any aspect of a participant's clinical care. Although there is no direct benefit to participants, the donated tissue may help researchers develop better ways to study tendon injuries and improve future treatment options for tendon disease.
Read the detailed description
This study aims to improve our understanding of how human tendons work, why they become injured, and how tendon diseases develop. Tendon problems-such as tendinopathy-are common and can cause long-lasting pain and loss of mobility. Scientists currently lack good laboratory models that accurately represent real human tendon tissue, which makes it harder to study these conditions or test new treatments.
During many types of planned orthopaedic surgery, small pieces of tendon tissue are routinely removed because they are no longer needed for the patient's care. Normally, this tissue would simply be thrown away. In this study, patients who are already having surgery are invited to donate this surplus tissue for research.
How the study works:
If a patient agrees to take part, the healthcare team will collect the leftover tendon tissue during their planned operation. There are no extra procedures, no changes to the surgery, and nothing additional that the patient needs to do.
After collection, the tissue is taken to research laboratories at Queen Mary University of London. There, scientists use it in two main ways:
- Studying the tendon tissue itself: Researchers examine the structure and cells within the tendon to study how tendon cells are organised.
- Growing tendon cells in the lab:
The donated tissue allows researchers to isolate living tendon cells. These cells can then be used to build more advanced laboratory models-such as "tendon-on-a-chip" systems-that mimic how tendons experience movement, load, and interaction with other cell types. These models will help scientists study disease processes and could support the development of new treatments in the future.
To support this work, the research team also receives a small amount of non-identifiable medical information about each donor-such as age, general health information, and the reason for surgery. This helps researchers understand how different factors may influence tendon biology. All personal details (like names or NHS numbers) remain within the hospital and are never shared with the research team.
Why this research matters:
Human tendon tissue is rarely available for research, yet it is essential for creating accurate models and understanding real-world disease. By using tissue that would otherwise be discarded, this study will:
- Provide new insights into how tendons function and how tendon diseases develop.
- Help researchers design more realistic laboratory systems to study tendon conditions.
- Support future work aiming to improve diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of tendon disorders.
Although participants will not directly benefit, their donated tissue may contribute to scientific progress that improves care for people with tendon injuries in the future.
- Conditions
- Tendinopathy, Musculoskeletal Diseases or Conditions, ACL Surgery, Achilles Tendon Surgery
- Keywords
- Tendon tissue collection
- Medical subject headings
- Tendinopathy, Musculoskeletal Diseases
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Obtain sufficient tendon tissue samples.
The main outcome of this project is to obtain sufficient tendon tissue to isolate different human tendon cells and perform tissue analysis.
Measured: Perioperative to immediate post-collection laboratory processing (within 24 hours).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 May 2026
- Study start4 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Oct 2031 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Oct 2031 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for TendinopathyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 400 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Queen Mary University of London
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Hazel Screen, Professor, PhD, Principal investigator, Queen Mary University of London
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07606092
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 368295
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 1 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 7 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: No individual participant data will be shared. All data used in the study are pseudonymised before transfer to the research team, and identifiable information remains within the NHS clinical environment. No IPD dataset suitable for external sharing will be generated.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Human Tendon Tissue Collection for In Vitro Models and Tissue Analysis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07606092
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 368295
- Conditions
- Tendinopathy, Musculoskeletal Diseases or Conditions, ACL Surgery, Achilles Tendon Surgery
- Keywords
- Tendon tissue collection
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 400 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Queen Mary University of LondonUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 4 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Oct 2031 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Oct 2031 (estimated)
- First posted
- 26 May 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this study is to improve understanding of tendon health and disease by using surplus tendon tissue that is routinely removed during planned orthopaedic surgeries in adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- What can tendon tissue and tendon cells tell us about how healthy and diseased tendons function?
Participants will not undergo any extra procedures. Instead, researchers will use only tissue that is already being removed as part of normal surgical care and would otherwise be discarded.
Participants will:
- Be asked for permission (consent) before their surgery to donate any surplus tendon tissue.
- Have a small piece of tendon tissue (normally waste material) collected during their planned operation.
- Allow the research team to access some non-identifiable medical information (such as age, reason for surgery, and relevant medical history) to help interpret research findings.
What the researchers will do with the donated tissue:
- Isolate different types of human tendon cells.
- Build advanced laboratory cellular models to study how tendon diseases develop.
- Analyse whole tendon tissue sections to understand cell types, tissue organisation, and disease-related changes.
This study does not involve testing treatments, and it does not change any aspect of a participant's clinical care. Although there is no direct benefit to participants, the donated tissue may help researchers develop better ways to study tendon injuries and improve future treatment options for tendon disease.
Detailed description
This study aims to improve our understanding of how human tendons work, why they become injured, and how tendon diseases develop. Tendon problems-such as tendinopathy-are common and can cause long-lasting pain and loss of mobility. Scientists currently lack good laboratory models that accurately represent real human tendon tissue, which makes it harder to study these conditions or test new treatments.
During many types of planned orthopaedic surgery, small pieces of tendon tissue are routinely removed because they are no longer needed for the patient's care. Normally, this tissue would simply be thrown away. In this study, patients who are already having surgery are invited to donate this surplus tissue for research.
How the study works:
If a patient agrees to take part, the healthcare team will collect the leftover tendon tissue during their planned operation. There are no extra procedures, no changes to the surgery, and nothing additional that the patient needs to do.
After collection, the tissue is taken to research laboratories at Queen Mary University of London. There, scientists use it in two main ways:
- Studying the tendon tissue itself: Researchers examine the structure and cells within the tendon to study how tendon cells are organised.
- Growing tendon cells in the lab:
The donated tissue allows researchers to isolate living tendon cells. These cells can then be used to build more advanced laboratory models-such as "tendon-on-a-chip" systems-that mimic how tendons experience movement, load, and interaction with other cell types. These models will help scientists study disease processes and could support the development of new treatments in the future.
To support this work, the research team also receives a small amount of non-identifiable medical information about each donor-such as age, general health information, and the reason for surgery. This helps researchers understand how different factors may influence tendon biology. All personal details (like names or NHS numbers) remain within the hospital and are never shared with the research team.
Why this research matters:
Human tendon tissue is rarely available for research, yet it is essential for creating accurate models and understanding real-world disease. By using tissue that would otherwise be discarded, this study will:
- Provide new insights into how tendons function and how tendon diseases develop.
- Help researchers design more realistic laboratory systems to study tendon conditions.
- Support future work aiming to improve diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of tendon disorders.
Although participants will not directly benefit, their donated tissue may contribute to scientific progress that improves care for people with tendon injuries in the future.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Patients scheduled to undergo orthopaedic lower limb surgery at the Royal London, Whipps Cross University Hospital and the Barts Health Orthopaedic Centre in Newham.
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- 18 years or older
- Scheduled to undergo orthopaedic lower limb surgery that involve tendon tissue waste
- Have provided informed consent to take part in the study
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Under the age of 18
- Unable or unwilling to give informed consent (including those with limited English proficiency)
- Cases where tendon tissue is required for clinical care and therefore not surplus.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Obtain sufficient tendon tissue samples.
Time frame: Perioperative to immediate post-collection laboratory processing (within 24 hours).
The main outcome of this project is to obtain sufficient tendon tissue to isolate different human tendon cells and perform tissue analysis.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. No individual participant data will be shared. All data used in the study are pseudonymised before transfer to the research team, and identifiable information remains within the NHS clinical environment. No IPD dataset suitable for external sharing will be generated.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Hazel Screen, Professor, PhD principal investigator
Queen Mary University of London
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Tendinopathy and Musculoskeletal Diseases or Conditions, run by Queen Mary University of London at 2 sites in United Kingdom.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Mays Jawad, PhD (020 7882 7275/6574, research.governance@qmul.ac.uk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Obtain sufficient tendon tissue samples. (time frame: Perioperative to immediate post-collection laboratory processing (within 24 hours).). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Oct 2026.