BackCare aims to significantly reduce the burden of back pain by providing information and education to all people and organisations affected by back pain and to fund scientific research into the causes, prevention and management of back pain.
BackCare was founded in 1968 by Stanley Grundy who suffered from chronic back pain but was disappointed to find out that, at that time, there was a lack of information and research in this area. As a result he founded the Back Pain Research Association, later renamed the National Back Pain Association (NBPA) and is now known as BackCare, the charity for healthier backs (although our registered name is still the National Back Pain Association).
BackCare is a national charity governed by a board of trustees, chaired by Dr Andrew Auty. The Board of Trustees is assisted by the Research Committee and the Education Committee who are responsible for BackCare’s research grants and publications respectively.
BackCare is supported in its mission by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales who is BackCare’s Patron. Furthermore, Dame Carol Black, Ann Redgrave and Ken Livingston have shown their support to BackCare by acting as BackCare’s vice-patrons.
Patron
- His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.
Vice-patrons
- Professor Dame Carol Black DBE MD FRCP MACP FMedSci, Health and Wellbeing Tsar for the Government.
- Mr Ken Livingston, former Mayor of London.
- Dr Lady Ann Redgrave MBBS DO, medical doctor and osteopath with special interest in back pain and former medical advisor to the Great Britain rowing squad.
Founder
- Stanley Grundy CBE †
President
- Sir Frank Davies CBE OstJ
Vice-presidents
- Ms Carol Bannister BA OHNC CertEd
- Dr Loic Burn BA MRCS LRCP DPh
- Dr John Hobson MB ChB MRCP MFOM
- Mr Toby Jessell MA(Oxon)
- Mr George E. T. Raine MA MB BChir FRCS
- Lord Rea of Eskdale MA MD FRCGP
- Dr Charles Sears MB BS FRCGP
- Dr Peter Skew MBBS LRCP MRCS
- Mr Greg Sharp DO
- Dr Kevin Tesh PhD BSc(Hons) MErgS MIOSH
Chairman
- Dr Brian Hammond DO DC PhD
Trustees
- Dr Andrew Auty MA MIOSH
- Ms Liz Dodgson
- Mr Alan Gardner MB BS FRCS (Eng)
- Dr Brian Hammond DO DC PhD
- Ms Rosy Hyman BSc(Hons) Ost Med
- Mr Mark Pharoah
- Ms Liz Prosser Bed(Hons) MSc
- Dr Lisa Roberts PhD MCSP
- Ms Lorna Taylor
- Ms Ann Thomson FCSP MSc BA DipTP MMACP
Education Committee
The Education Committee is a sub-committee of the Board of Trustees and responsible for BackCare’s publications. Members include a number of trustees and external people who have been invited for their expertise in specific areas. Currently the Education Committee consists of:
- Mrs Pat Alexander MSc MCSP SRP
- Mr Andrew Auty MA MIOSH
- Mr Levent Caglar
- Dr Mike Cummings
- Mr Alan Gardner MB BS FRCS(Eng) (Chair)
- Mr Clive Manley
- Ms Jane Staggs
Research Committee
The Research Committee is a sub-committee of the Board of Trustees and responsible for BackCare’s research grants. Members include a number of trustees and external people who have been invited for their expertise in specific areas. Currently the Research Committee consists of:
- Dr Michael Adams BSc PhD
- Dr Mike Cummings MB ChB Dip Med Ac
- Dr Kate Dunn
- Mr Alan Gardner MBBS FRCS(Eng)
- Dr Tamar Pincus BSc MSc MPhil PhD
- Dr Lisa Roberts PhD MCSP
- Mr Greg Sharp DO