Bisphosphonate Use, Oral Flora, Saliva, Gingival Crevicular Fluid And Bone Markers In Patients With Jaw Osteonecrosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$121,751.00
Summary
Bisphosphonates are used in patients with bones that break easily due to conditions such as osteoporosis. Recent research suggests a possible association between these drugs and jaw bone breakdown called jaw osteonecrosis - a devastating condition with no current effective treatment. It is unclear why this condition affects only jaw bones. This study seeks to investigate if bacteria in the mouth, gum disease and saliva are involved in jaw osteonecrosis, which can then help to improve management.
Is Bisphosphonate Use For The Treatment Of Benign Bone Disease Associated With Impaired Dental Healing?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$238,160.00
Summary
Osteoporosis (OSP) is a common condition where bones are thin and may break (fracture). Currently, approximately 2 million Australians suffer from OSP. This figure will rise over the next 20 years as people age. Recommended drug treatment of OSP involves medication called bisphosphonates. Recent research, including a warning from the National Adverse Drug Reaction Committee, has suggested a possible association between bisphosphonates and bone breakdown in the jaw (osteonecrosis) - a devastating ....Osteoporosis (OSP) is a common condition where bones are thin and may break (fracture). Currently, approximately 2 million Australians suffer from OSP. This figure will rise over the next 20 years as people age. Recommended drug treatment of OSP involves medication called bisphosphonates. Recent research, including a warning from the National Adverse Drug Reaction Committee, has suggested a possible association between bisphosphonates and bone breakdown in the jaw (osteonecrosis) - a devastating condition for which no effective treatment exists. This study seeks to determine if bisphosphonate use for the treatment of OSP or other non-cancerous (benign) bone disease (eg Paget's disease) slows dental healing and increases the risk of jaw osteonecrosis. This has major implications and significant potential benefits for the large numbers of people with OSP taking bisphosphonates. Currently, the chance of dental complications during bisphosphonate therapy and what factors predispose to such complications remains unclear. Given the large numbers of people at risk, these are important issues that require urgent careful investigation. We want to determine if long-term (more than 2 years' duration) bisphosphonate treatment of OSP or other benign bone disease slows dental healing and leads to jaw osteonecrosis. We will use a case-control study design given the expected low likelihood of slowed dental healing. This design involves identifying patients with slowed dental healing (cases), and patients with normal dental healing (controls). Cases and controls will then be compared for bisphosphonate use to see if it is more likely that cases have been taking bisphosphonates. Our results will help guide treatment recommendations for these drugs both nationally and internationally.Read moreRead less
Regulation Of Bone Resorption In Periodontal Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$258,500.00
Summary
Periodontal disease is the most common disease involving bone loss in the world. We know little about the causes and how the disease develops. Some of the bacteria that live in the mouth are associated with the disease but the presence of these bacteria does not mean a person will have it. We do not know why some people suffer from the disease and others do not. Unfortunately when a person has periodontal disease the dentist has few choices in the way in which the patient is treated. There are n ....Periodontal disease is the most common disease involving bone loss in the world. We know little about the causes and how the disease develops. Some of the bacteria that live in the mouth are associated with the disease but the presence of these bacteria does not mean a person will have it. We do not know why some people suffer from the disease and others do not. Unfortunately when a person has periodontal disease the dentist has few choices in the way in which the patient is treated. There are no drugs presently available to treat this disease and surgical removal of the diseased tissue is the only option for treatment. Often after this treatment the disease continues to get worse and more bone is lost sometimes resulting in the loss of teeth. This study aims to understand how the disease causes the bone loss. We believe that some newly identified factors that regulate the cells which destroy bone are responsible. Our recently works show that these factors are present in abnormal levels in the diseased tissues of patients. We also wish to go further and try and find ways of treating the disease. We aim to find new treatments based on controlling the factors that regulate the cells that destroy bone .Read moreRead less
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.
Centre For Translational Pathology Research And Training
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,677,639.00
Summary
The Centre for Translational Pathology Research and Training is a collaborative network involving nine hospitals and research institutes affiliated with The University of Melbourne. It's goal is train a cadre of molecular pathologists experienced in collaborative multidisciplinary research who can effective translate research discoveries and inventions in to clinically useful diagnostic tests that will enable oncologists to individualise treatment decisions for patients with cancer, based on the ....The Centre for Translational Pathology Research and Training is a collaborative network involving nine hospitals and research institutes affiliated with The University of Melbourne. It's goal is train a cadre of molecular pathologists experienced in collaborative multidisciplinary research who can effective translate research discoveries and inventions in to clinically useful diagnostic tests that will enable oncologists to individualise treatment decisions for patients with cancer, based on the unique biology of the individual's tumour.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.
I am an orthopaedic surgeon and clinician-scientist based at Sydney’s largest children’s hospital. My goal is to improve treatments for children with traumatic injuries and bone deformity. I have worked in bone research for over 20 years. My current research interests are finding new treatments for drug-resistant bacterial infections, treating genetic bone disease, and developing new medical devices to help children’s bones grow straight.