Paul Bird has extensive experience in treating and conducting research in rheumatic disease, with particular expertise in Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis and Ankylosing spondylitis. Professor Bird received his medical degree with Honours from the University of Newcastle, and he completed his physician and rheumatology training in Sydney. Pursuing research alongside clinical medicine and patient care, he completed a PhD in 2005 examining MRI in Rheumatoid arthritis, and a Graduate Diploma in MRI. He continues to undertake arthritis research with fellow Australian rheumatologists and with international colleagues. Internationally recognised as a specialist in rheumatic disease and imaging, he is the current Chair of the International Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research association and actively participates in national and international rheumatology research. He has an extensive track record in MRI research and was a key contributor to the development of the RAMRIS MRI RA score, the PsAMRIS PsA MRI score, the MRI RA JSN score and the MRI hand OA assessment tool. Providing consultation imaging services to Synarc, Bioclinica, Imorphics, and Boston Imaging Core Lab, he continues to participate in image interpretation and analyses in rheumatology clinical trials. As a clinical researcher, he is past Director of Optimus Clinical Research, a trial centre undertaking Phase 2,3 and 4 clinical trials in rheumatology. He is current medical director of Emeritus Research. He has been Principal Investigator in over 100 clinical trials and continues to undertake Investigator Initiated Trials.