Dr Bhalara qualified in Medicine at University College, London. After broad general medical training in London teaching hospitals including St Bartholemew’s, he obtained higher specialist rheumatology training at Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospitals and the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, London.

He wrote a doctoral thesis on the assessment of early inflammatory arthritis and biological therapy following research undertaken at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, London and has published on these and related topics. He obtained a Master’s degree in Immunology (awarded with distinction) and retains an academic interest in the Immunology of rheumatic disease.

He has also been involved in early clinical trials on the use of novel biological agents in rheumatoid arthritis. He has run a tertiary centre, early arthritis service at Charing Cross Hospital and is involved in a research searching novel diagnostic tests and therapeutic targets. More recently he has been involved in formulating local prescribing policies for rheumatic diseases and developed the Pan Hertfordshire Guidance on Osteoporosis Management.

Current research projects

• Evaluation of the utility of ultrasound in early arthritis diagnosis and management
• Investigation of gene signature profiling using microarray analysis in early arthritis

Clinical Interests

• Inflammatory arthritis and multisystem disease
• Osteoporosis
• Gout
• Sports medicine and soft tissue lesions