From improving the bone mass of babies in the womb to preventing fractures in older age, our research is advancing worldwide bone health. It is also directly informing national and international policy, setting global standards for bone health management.
The research is led by Professor Nicholas Harvey, Professor Elaine Dennison, Professor Kate Ward, Associate Professor Elizabeth Curtis, Associate Professor Nicholas Fuggle and Dr Rebecca Moon at the University's MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre (MRCLEC) and at the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).
Challenge
Osteoporosis weakens bones by reducing their density and structure, significantly increasing the risk of fractures.
As populations age, the number of fractures is rising globally. In the UK, more than 500,000 fractures occur each year, costing the NHS around £5billion annually.
Major fractures carry serious consequences. They are linked to 20% reduced survival within 10 years and often result in loss of independence, including admission to residential care.
Improving global bone health across the lifecourse
Pioneered by Professor Cyrus Cooper, former Director of the MRCLEC, Southampton has led internationally significant research into osteoporosis for more than three decades. The team has identified the factors that drive bone development and bone loss and created effective strategies to prevent fractures.
Southampton research pioneered the concept that bone mass and later-life fracture risk are shaped throughout life, from foetal development through to older age.
Their world-leading programme of osteoporosis research spans mechanistic discovery, clinical trials, risk prediction and global policy. It is having a significant effect in improving patient care and health systems worldwide.
Impact includes:
- revealing that the bone mass of foetuses in the womb could be improved by pregnant women taking vitamin D supplements. These findings informed national guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition and Public Health England
- underpinning the transformation of secondary fracture prevention on a global scale through the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) Capture the Fracture (CTF) programme. This is driving the development and global rollout of more than 1,200 CTF-accredited fracture Liaison services to optimise clinical practice worldwide
- leading national and international guidance that has set the global standards for osteoporosis management, including from the UK National Osteoporosis Guideline Group, the IOF and the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO)
- sparking global discussion and worldwide dissemination by addressing key evidence gaps relating to equitable bone health management worldwide
- influencing World Health Organization global standards for benchmarking hip fracture care in collaboration with the IOF and the ESCEO
- advancing community screening for high fracture risk using the FRAX® risk calculator. FRAX® estimates the 10-year fracture probability using clinical risk factors such as age, body mass index and prior fractures with optional bone density scans
- contributing to the largest human imaging study in the world, leading bone and body composition (DXA) scanning of 100,000 participants in the UK Biobank
Nicholas, together with colleagues at the University of Sheffield, is also helping shape the future of FRAX® and FRAXPlus® that personalises risk assessment. He is co-leading the development of the next version of FRAX® in a programme that is drawing on data from more than two million individuals worldwide.
