The London Implant Retrieval Centre (LIRC) was set up in 2007 by two consultant orthopaedic surgeons, Prof Alister Hart and Mr John Skinner. It is an independent research centre bringing together surgeons and engineers to help understand why spine, hip and knee implants fail. The centre is based at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, London, UK. The LIRC has collected over 9,000 retrieved components from over 200 surgical collaborators in 29 countries. The centre has published 130 peer-reviewed papers with 200 co-authors and been cited more than 3,000 times. Through our research we are enabling safer, better-informed and more innovative orthopaedic care.