BONE SIZE AND BONE TURNOVER: RELATIONSHIP TO FRACTURE RISK OVER TEN YEARS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,225.00
Summary
The occurrence of fracture in the ageing population is a major public health problem because these fractures are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality. Of women reaching 90 years of age, one third will fracture their hip and overall, one in every six women will sustain an osteoporotic fracture in her lifetime. The direct cost to the community is unknown but estimated, conservatively, at 175 million dollars annually. Most of this is likely to be the result of hip fractures which oc ....The occurrence of fracture in the ageing population is a major public health problem because these fractures are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality. Of women reaching 90 years of age, one third will fracture their hip and overall, one in every six women will sustain an osteoporotic fracture in her lifetime. The direct cost to the community is unknown but estimated, conservatively, at 175 million dollars annually. Most of this is likely to be the result of hip fractures which occupy an estimated 400,000 bed-days annually. This bed occupancy is fourth next to mental illness, cardiac disease and cancer. The Geelong Osteoporosis Study is a large population-based epidemiological study currently under way to evaluate the major risk factors for fracture in women . This present study which will be an extension of the study to date, will provide in total, 8-10 years of data concerning the processes that result in increased bone fragility and fracture.Read moreRead less
Inhibition Of Bone Resorption Increases Skeletal Mechanical Strength By Thickening Trabecular Structures
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$175,648.00
Summary
This project will identify the basis by which a number of therapies for osteoporosis decrease the risk of bone fractures. Currently at least four classes of these compounds in current use for the treatment of osteoporosis. Some of them have been found to have a very marked beneficial effect by halving the risk of fracture. This study will determine if each of these classes of compounds have the ability to increase the mechanical strength of bone to the same level and if each of these compounds h ....This project will identify the basis by which a number of therapies for osteoporosis decrease the risk of bone fractures. Currently at least four classes of these compounds in current use for the treatment of osteoporosis. Some of them have been found to have a very marked beneficial effect by halving the risk of fracture. This study will determine if each of these classes of compounds have the ability to increase the mechanical strength of bone to the same level and if each of these compounds has the same effects on bone structure. Further the effects of stimulating bone formation by subjecting the skeletal to mechanical stress, on the efficacy of each of the therapies will be established. Conversely the effect of aging, which imposes a limitation on bone formation, will be studied.Read moreRead less
Micro-architectural Bone Structure Determined By Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$52,288.00
Summary
Osteoarthritis is the main form of arthritis. Bone metabolism is involved in osteoarthritis, however it is unknown how this relates to knee structures prior to disease onset. Magnetic Resonance Imaging techniques enable measurement of a healthy knee joint to a diseased one. By using the Geelong Osteoporosis Study, we will demonstrate how bone metabolism affects change in knee structure, and the risk of osteoarthritis.
Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) And Osteoporosis: Mechanisms And Clinical Consequences
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$422,964.00
Summary
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used to treat depression. Serotonin is not unique to the brain but is also used by other cells in the body, including bone cells. In this project the influence of SSRIs on human osteoclast and osteoblast formation and function will be investigated in a laboratory. Additionally, the impact of SSRI use on bone loss and fracture risk in a community sample of women and men will be investigated. These studies will determine if exposure to ....Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used to treat depression. Serotonin is not unique to the brain but is also used by other cells in the body, including bone cells. In this project the influence of SSRIs on human osteoclast and osteoblast formation and function will be investigated in a laboratory. Additionally, the impact of SSRI use on bone loss and fracture risk in a community sample of women and men will be investigated. These studies will determine if exposure to SSRIs adversely impact bone health.Read moreRead less
Psychiatric Disorders, Psychotropic Agents And Bone Health: From Benchtop To Bedside.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$447,744.00
Summary
Just under half of all people with a psychiatric disorder have a chronic physical illness. One common and neglected comorbidity is osteoporosis. Dr Williams has brought together a multi-disciplinary team of researchers and clinicians that are gathering laboratory through to clinical evidence regarding the interplay between psychiatric disorders, the medication used to treat these disorders and bone health with the aim of informing clinical practice and guiding clinical choice.
Monitoring Bone Loss And Response To Therapy Through Bone Material And Structural Composition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$696,111.00
Summary
Millions of scripts are filled for treatment of osteoporosis. However, there is no way of knowing if these drugs are right for these individuals, if it improves bone strength or are actually doing harm. Bone density measurement is of limited value. We have developed a new analysis method that measures changes in bone structure that tell us if the treatment is or is not working so alternative treatment can be used. The aim of this study is to test this new method.
Identification Of Novel PTH Anabolic Targets In Osteoblasts
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,216.00
Summary
Osteoporosis is a major disease affecting Australians. Whilst there are a number of drugs available that will reduce bone loss, there are few drugs available that build new bone, and little is known of the action of these drugs. New targets have been identified that modulate bone formation, and this project aims to validate these in appropriate models and determine their mechanism of action.
Optimising Bone Regeneration Using Advanced Design And Fabrication Technologies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$916,671.00
Summary
The aging population has produced a rapidly increasing demand for synthetic implants that can regenerate lost or diseased bone. This project will produce an implant that represents a viable alternative to bone autografts and allografts with broad applications for the repair of large or challenging bone defects. Such an achievement will have significant healthcare benefits by reducing patient morbidity and recovery time, and improving long-term outcomes.
Breast Cancer has a particular preference to form cancer metastases in bone where its presence is associated with bone destruction that frequently results in significant pain and disability. Bone seems to provide a fertile soil for breast cancer cells that have moved into the blood vessels from the original cancer site in the breast. Once tumour cells have invade bone marrow spaces from the blood vessels they are able to grow and induce the normal cells of the bone marrow to destroy the surround ....Breast Cancer has a particular preference to form cancer metastases in bone where its presence is associated with bone destruction that frequently results in significant pain and disability. Bone seems to provide a fertile soil for breast cancer cells that have moved into the blood vessels from the original cancer site in the breast. Once tumour cells have invade bone marrow spaces from the blood vessels they are able to grow and induce the normal cells of the bone marrow to destroy the surrounding hard bone. This allows the tumour to grow faster. Together these processed create a vicious cycle that contributes to the serious consequences of bone metastases. In this project we will be studying mice with breast cancer to understand what makes the bone marrow such a fertile and receptive site for breast cancer metastasis. In particular, we are looking at how the normal processes of bone renewal and repair contribute to the establishment of cancer in bone. We will use the body's own bone protecting protein, called osteoprotegerin, to test how blocking bone destruction will affect the ability of cancer cells to invade and grow in bone. This study has the potential to change the way bone metastases are treated. Treatment of breast cancer could be significantly improved if the fertile soil of bone could be modified to either block the targeting of breast cancer to bone, or to inhibit its growth there.Read moreRead less
Determining The Influences Of Cell Stress And Heat Shock Factor-1 Action In Osteoclast Formation And Pathological Bone Loss.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$657,287.00
Summary
Cancer and rheumatoid arthritis cause painful bone destruction. This occurs due to increased numbers of bone destroying cells called osteoclasts. We found stress responses in bone cells can increase osteoclast numbers by activating proteins inside the bone cells that encourage osteoclasts to form. We will thus study whether cell stress blocking drugs might stop bone loss. As arthritis and cancer both cause stress responses, this work could identify a new way that such diseases affect bone.