The Role Of Endogenous Glucocorticoids In Autoimmune Arthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$693,185.00
Summary
Inflammatory joint diseases affect millions of people worldwide and in most patients these often chronic conditions can not be cured. In an experimental model of arthritis we have found that bone cells can modify the severity of inflammation when certain hormonal signals are blocked. This study will identify the mechanisms underlying these hormonal effects with the aim to find new targets for efficient treatments for arthritis.
Novel Pathways Involving APC And PAR-2 In Cartilage Degradation In Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,834.00
Summary
Loss of the cartilage that normally lines the ends of bones is central to joint failure in arthritis and the need for replacement surgery. There are presently no treatments that stop cartilage breakdown in joint disease. This project investigates the role of a new pathway not previously thought to be active in cartilage, in the progressive damage seen in arthritis. Successful completion of these studies may provide a novel new strategy to treat joint disease.
Roles Of Injury-induced Inflammatory Response In Regulating Bony Repair At Injured Growth Plate Cartilage
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$366,301.00
Summary
Children's growth plate cartilage is responsible for bone lengthening. Due to popularity of sports and play, trauma-induced growth plate damage and subsequently bone growth defects are common in children, with up to 30% of growth plate injury cases resulting in growth abnormality, for which the present surgical correction is highly invasive and not fully effective. Although we know that the growth plate injury-induced bone growth defects result from bony repair of the injured growth cartilage, w ....Children's growth plate cartilage is responsible for bone lengthening. Due to popularity of sports and play, trauma-induced growth plate damage and subsequently bone growth defects are common in children, with up to 30% of growth plate injury cases resulting in growth abnormality, for which the present surgical correction is highly invasive and not fully effective. Although we know that the growth plate injury-induced bone growth defects result from bony repair of the injured growth cartilage, we largely don't understand why and how this bony repair occurs. Understanding mechanisms for this faulty bony repair of injured growth plate will be critical prior to effective biological treatments can be developed. Recently, using an injury model in young rats, we found that bony tissue formation at injured growth plate is preceded sequentially by inflammatory, fibrogenic, chondrogenic and osteogenic responses. The inflammatory response is an initial event and our recent studies suggest that inflammatory response recruits inflammatory cells and produces important molecules that could significantly influence subsequent fibrogenic, chondrogenic and osteogenic events leading to the bony repair of the injured growth plate cartilage. The current proposal further addresses roles of the inflammatory response and the molecular pathways of this response in regulating downstream bony repair events. This project will generate novel understanding on the faulty bony repair of injured growth plate, and will provide valuable information for developing cost-effective and simple therapeutic intervention that aims to prevent bony repair and to enhance cartilage regeneration of the injured growth plate in children.Read moreRead less
Economic Evaluation And Health Outcomes Of Arthritis And Its Treatments
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,660.00
Summary
Musculoskeletal diseases are the most common single cause of chronic disability in Australia and total joint replacement is rapidly becoming one of the most commonly performed operations. This burden of illness is likely to increase with our ageing population and there is an urgent need to obtain data relating to the costs and outcomes in the Australian context so that appropriate planning of health services and resources can be carried out. The WHO (World Health Organisation) has declared 2000 ....Musculoskeletal diseases are the most common single cause of chronic disability in Australia and total joint replacement is rapidly becoming one of the most commonly performed operations. This burden of illness is likely to increase with our ageing population and there is an urgent need to obtain data relating to the costs and outcomes in the Australian context so that appropriate planning of health services and resources can be carried out. The WHO (World Health Organisation) has declared 2000 to 2010 the Bone and Joint Decade, recommending that research into musculoskeletal disorders be a priority. We have been recruiting and following a unique cohort of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients, from both the public and private health sectors, who have been carefully documenting their health outcomes, health care costs (including primary, revision and bilateral hip and knee joint replacement surgery), out-of-pocket and indirect costs related to their arthritis. Long-term follow-up is now essential to obtain a clear picture of the impact of living with arthritis over time and the cost-effectiveness and predictors of good and bad outcomes of joint replacement surgery. The information derived from this study will be useful for patients and doctors in making their decisions about treatments, as well as for health care providers in planning of health services for arthritis sufferers. Given that the cohorts are already established, the study is in a unique position to provide ongoing important longer-term data for relatively low cost.Read moreRead less
Regulation Of Bone Dynamics By Osteal Tissue Macrophages (Osteomacs)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$741,095.00
Summary
There is a high demand for effective treatments to rebuild and replace lost bone in fracture repair and osteoporosis. We have described a discrete population of macrophages (classically immune defense cells) within the specialized tissues that line bones. We have shown that these bone tissue macrophages have a novel role in promoting the formation of new bone. This project grant will extend these observations and identify the clinical potential of bone tissue macrophages to treat bone disease.