Research Group: Musculoskeletal Disease
Musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoporosis, sarcopenia and osteoarthritis are a major public health problem exacerbated by an increasingly obese, sedentary and aging population.
Group Overview
Researchers in the Musculoskeletal Disease research group, primarily based at the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, use lifecourse epidemiological methods to reduce the population burden of common chronic musculoskeletal disease and disability.
Through the development and testing of lifestyle, behavioural and pharmacological interventions informed by Faculty of Medicine observational studies, the Musculoskeletal Disease research group optimises musculoskeletal health (bone, muscle and joint) and uses these findings to influence how care is delivered and national and regional health policy.
Our internationally leading programmes are developing an understanding of the causes of osteoporosis, sarcopenia and osteoarthritis, and supporting the development and evaluation of interventions at appropriate stages in the lifecourse.
The Group carries out pioneering interdisciplinary research with the Bone and Joint Research Group, which uses human skeletal stem cells, novel nanomaterial science and innovative tissue engineering strategies in the treatment and understanding of musculoskeletal conditions and diseases.
Specifically, their research harnesses:
i) human stem and skeletal progenitor populations
ii) nanomaterials science to create osteoconductive and inductive scaffolds
iii) cell signal/growth factor biology including nanomedicine and mechanobiology, to develop technologies to augment bone and cartilage tissue repair for patient application.