Prof Coates, a senior clinical research fellow in the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, receives a five-year award of up to £2m.

She will use the funding to further her research into psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, a type of inflammatory arthritis that develops in around one-third of people with the skin condition psoriasis, causing swollen and painful joints. Around 640,000 people in the UK have this form of arthritis.

Prof Coates said: ‘I'm delighted that the NIHR has awarded me this funding in recognition of my research in this area.'

She said she will use data from a large European study to develop a simple risk calculator to allow people with psoriasis to estimate their risk of developing arthritis. 

‘This will help people living with psoriasis understand their risk but also help us to design future studies aiming to prevent the development of arthritis in people who are at high risk,' she added.

‘I will also design a new national study to test personalisation of treatment for those who do develop arthritis. I will work with people living with psoriatic arthritis and medical teams to design this study using digital supports like apps and we will be able to test different treatments and personalise these for different people.'

The NIHR Research Professorship scheme aims to strengthen and benefit health, public health and care research leadership. Previous NIHR Research Professors research has led to interventions which have improved patient care.