Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a common cause of hip pain characterised by extra bone formation at the hip, called a cam-deformity. FAI is thought to create hip joint damage and osteoarthritis. Our 5 year longitudinal study of people with FAI in two (Melbourne and Brisbane) sites will investigate whether factors (such as cam-deformity size, hip contact force, muscle strength and joint range) can predict hip joint damage (measured with magnetic resonance imaging) over two years.
Prevention And Treatment Of Bone Infection With CSA-90
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,983.00
Summary
Bone infections are a major challenge to treat, especially with the rise of drug resistant “superbugs”. We have access to a new agent, CSA-90, that has dual properties of being anti-microbial (antibiotic) and helps encourage bone growth. This project aims to expand upon our prior research and test CSA-90 for the treatment of chronic bone infections. We will also look at applying this technology to joint replacements and this drug may be particularly useful for coating orthopaedic implants.
Enhancing Joint Replacement Outcomes Through National Data Linkage
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$776,063.00
Summary
This is an Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR) project that involves linking Registry data with state and federal government health datasets. This will help to better understand the complications and factors affecting the rate of complication after hip, knee and shoulder joint replacement. This information will be used to improve outcomes for patients having this surgery.
Maximum Acceptable Risk Of Complication In Total Knee Arthroplasty (MARKA) Study: Using Discreet Choice Experiments To Elicit Patient And Surgeon Perception Of Acceptable Risk In Total Knee Arthroplasty
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$465,199.00
Summary
Patient expectation is the strongest predictor of satisfaction following total knee replacement. Dissatisfaction with surgery is reported in approximately 1 in 5 patients undergoing knee replacement. Unrealistic patient expectations and uninformed perceptions of potential benefits, risks and limitations of surgery lead to dissatisfaction in many cases. This study will examine the “risk-benefit” preferences in patients and surgeons considering total knee replacement as a treatment option for end- ....Patient expectation is the strongest predictor of satisfaction following total knee replacement. Dissatisfaction with surgery is reported in approximately 1 in 5 patients undergoing knee replacement. Unrealistic patient expectations and uninformed perceptions of potential benefits, risks and limitations of surgery lead to dissatisfaction in many cases. This study will examine the “risk-benefit” preferences in patients and surgeons considering total knee replacement as a treatment option for end-stage osteoarthritis.Read moreRead less
A 10 Year Follow Up Of The Tasmanian Older Adult Cohort (TASOAC).
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$676,020.00
Summary
The TASOAC study is a population based study looking at the causes and course of osteoarthritis using state of the art techniques. This study will extend follow up to ten years.
Molecular Mechanisms Of Joint Degeneration In Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$718,273.00
Summary
Arthritis is a major clinical and socio-economic problem. Arthritis involves the destruction of cartilage in joints. However, the mechanisms of initiation and progression of cartilage destruction remain poorly understood. Our studies will for explore the role of a new regulator of gene expression, microRNA, in the initation and progression of osteoarthritis. This will provide important new information on disease mechanisms for the development of diagnostic biomarkers and therapies
Are Chondrocytes The Target Cells Of Glucocorticoid Therapy In Autoimmune Arthritis?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$544,619.00
Summary
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used for their potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects due to the effects GCs on immune cells or synovial fibroblasts. Recently, we have made the exciting discovery that arthritis mice with glucocorticoid receptor knock-out in chondrocyte are completely resistant to glucocorticoid treatment. This study will identify the mechanisms underlying these hormonal effects with the aim to find new targets for efficient treatments for arthritis.
Osteoarthritis (OA) affects approximately 20% of Australians and costs billions each year in joint replacements. Therapies that halt joint destruction in OA are urgently needed. We hypothesise that the little-known gene, vanin -3, is a key regulator of OA disease pathways. Our project will map vanin-3 in the joint and reveal how much vanin-3 contributes to joint destruction in mice. We expect to find a link between vanin-3 and metabolic disorders and identify new targets for therapy.
MicroRNAs As Therapeutic Targets For Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$921,754.00
Summary
microRNAs are small cellular RNA fragments that regulate protein expression. They have been shown to be crucial regulators of normal development and are associated with many disease processes. The goal of this project is to determine the role of microRNAs in the initiation and progression of joint degeneration in osteoarthritis and test the therapeutic efficacy of targeting microRNAs as new approach to OA treatment.
Efficacy Of Education And Advice Delivered By Text Message To Aid Smoking Cessation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$538,395.00
Summary
A high proportion of smokers indicate a desire to stop smoking and report having made attempts to quit. However, most attempts are not successful and new methods are needed to support motivated smokers and improve success rates. This project evaluates the use of text messages to deliver advice and support to smokers motivated to stop smoking. We aim to understand if and how this promosing new intervention helps smokers to quit.