Men, women, blood and bone

University cross faculty team including Miss Alice Goring and Dr. Claire Clarkin (lead, Biological Sciences, FELs) Prof. Sumeet Mahajan and Philipp Schneider (FEPs) Dr. Janos Kanczler and Prof. Richard Oreffo (FoM) have published a study revealing that 'Regulation of the bone vascular network in sexually dimorphic' in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 13th November 2019.

Utilising technologies including Synchrotron X-ray tomography (featured as November cover image) and Raman spectroscopy to examine the composition of cortical bone porosity. The study revealed that genetic loss of angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) impacts males most severely and increases their risk of fracture. As VEGF levels reduce with age the team suggests that drugs developed to target the bone vasculature e.g. fracture repair or degenerative bone loss should be specific to sex to ensure the most effective clinical outcomes.