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Research project

Establishment of a National Network on Musculoskeletal Ageing

Project overview

Our overall aim is to establish a new national network which will underpin a step change in musculoskeletal ageing research capacity and strategy, by identifying: key tractable research priorities; developing an integrated multi-disciplinary grouping to address the identified research gaps; providing a platform to disseminate best practice; supporting Early Career Researchers (ECRs) to build research capacity and ensure longevity to current UKRI investments; and coordinating an ongoing programme of innovative studies to identify, develop and translate findings from our discovery science to clinical impact. Crucially the network will contribute to delivering the government Grand Challenge target of 5 more years of independent living by 2035, by identifying approaches to maintain mobility in old age. The network will bring together the scientific excellence of the three principal applicants. Focusing on the leading chronic non-communicable disorders of bone, muscle and joint (osteoporosis, sarcopenia, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis), the integration of these groups will galvanize a truly bench to bedside approach to provide a strong evidence base for health policy, underpinning a step change in UK musculoskeletal ageing research capability/capacity, and promoting increased healthspan.

Staff

Lead researchers

Professor Cyrus Cooper

Prof Rheumatology Clinical Epidemiology
Research interests
  • Key research contributions have been:
  • discovery of the developmental influences which contribute to the risk of osteoporosis and hi…
  • demonstration that maternal vitamin D insufficiency is associated with sub-optimal bone miner…
Connect with Cyrus

Email: cc@mrc.soton.ac.uk

Other researchers

Professor Nicholas Harvey

Director/Professor
Research interests
  • Lifecourse epidemiology of osteoporosis and fragility fractures
  • Understanding mechanism and development of novel interventions across lifecourse to prevent f…
Connect with Nicholas

Email: nch@mrc.soton.ac.uk

Collaborating research institutes, centres and groups

Research outputs

Epigenetic regulation of bone mass
Elizabeth Curtis, Nicholas Fuggle, Cyrus Cooper & Nicholas Harvey, 2022, Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 36(2)
DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2021.101612
Type: article
The global approach to rehabilitation following an osteoporotic fragility fracture: a review of the rehabilitation working group of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) committee of scientific advisors
Daniel Pinto, M. Alshahrani, R. Chapurlat, Thierry Chevalley, Elaine Dennison, B.M. Camargos, A. Papaioannou, Stuart Silverman, Jean-Francois Kaux, N.E. Lane, J Morales Torres, J. Paccou, Rene Rizzoli, Olivier Bruyere & Cyrus Cooper, 2022, Osteoporosis International, 33(3), 527-540
DOI: 10.1007/s00198-021-06240-7
Type: review
Risk of revision arthroplasty surgery after exposure to physically demanding occupational or leisure activities: a systematic review
Elena Zaballa Lasala, E. Clare Harris, Cyrus Cooper, Catherine Linaker & Karen Walker-Bone, 2022, PLoS ONE, 17(2 February)
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264487
Type: article
Attributes and definitions of locomotor capacity in older people: A World Health Organisation (WHO) locomotor capacity working group meeting report
N. Veronese, Germain Honvo, Jotheeswaran Amuthavalli Thiyagarajan, René Rizzoli, Cyrus Cooper, Olivier Bruyere, Christopher Mikton, Yuka Sumi, Theresa Diaz, Jean-Yves Reginster, Anushu Banerjee & Nicholas Harvey, 2022, Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 34(3), 481-483
DOI: 10.1007/s40520-022-02080-5
Type: letterEditorial
Osteoporosis in Europe: a compendium of country-specific reports
Carl Willers, Nicholas Norton, Nicholas C Harvey, Trolle Jacobson, Helena Johansson, Mattias Lorentzon, Eugene V McCloskey, Fredrik Borgström & John A Kanis, 2022, Archives of Osteoporosis, 17(1), 23
DOI: 10.1007/s11657-021-00969-8
Type: article
Understanding influences on physical activity participation by older adults: a qualitative study of community-dwelling older adults from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study, UK.
Jean Zhang, Ilse Bloom, Elaine Dennison, Kate Ward, Sian M Robinson, Mary Barker, Cyrus Cooper & Wendy Lawrence, 2022, PLoS ONE, 17(1 1)
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263050
Type: article
Feasibility and sustainability of working in different types of jobs after total hip arthroplasty: Analysis of longitudinal data from two cohorts
Elena Zaballa Lasala, Georgia Ntani, E. Clare Harris, Anne Lubbeke, Nigel Arden, Didier Hannouche, Cyrus Cooper & Karen Walker-Bone, 2022, Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 79(7), 486-493
DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2021-107970
Type: article