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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

Investigating the relationship between self-perception of fracture risk and prior fracture: findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study.
Gregorio Bevilacqua, Leo Westbury, Ilse Bloom, Jean Zhang, Kate Ward, Cyrus Cooper & Elaine Dennison, 2022, Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
DOI: 10.1007/s40520-022-02322-6
Type: article
An assessment of intervention thresholds for high fracture risk in Chile
Enrique Lopez Gavilanez, Imaicela N. Luis, Navarro G. Mario, Helena Johansson, Nicholas C. Harvey, Mattias Lorentzon, Enwu Liu, Liesbeth Vandenput, Eugene V. McCloskey & John A. Kanis, 2022, Archives of Osteoporosis, 18(1), 11
DOI: 10.1007/s11657-022-01198-3
Type: article
Primary hyperparathyroidism and fracture probability.
John A Kanis, Nicholas C Harvey, Enwu Liu, Liesbeth Vandenput, Mattias Lorentzon, Eugene V McCloskey, Roger Bouillon, Bo Abrahamsen, Lars Rejnmark & Helena Johansson, 2022, Osteoporosis International
DOI: 10.1007/s00198-022-06629-y
Type: article
Return to work and employment retention after uni-compartmental and total knee replacement: findings from the Clinical Outcomes in Arthroplasty study
Elena Zaballa Lasala, Georgia Ntani, E. Clare Harris, Nigel Arden, Cyrus Cooper & Karen Walker-Bone, 2022, The Knee, 40, 245-255
DOI: 10.1016/j.knee.2022.11.022
Type: article
Estimation of biological heart age using cardiovascular magnetic resonance radiomics.
Zahra Raisi-Estabragh, Ahmed Salih, Polyxeni Gkontra, Angelica Atehortua, Petia Radeva, Ilaria Boscolo-Galazzo, Gloria Menegaz, Nicholas Harvey, Karim Lekadir & Steffen E. Petersen, 2022, Scientific Reports, 12(1)
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16639-9
Type: article
Greater pQCT calf muscle density is associated with lower fracture risk, independent of FRAX, falls and BMD
Nicholas C. Harvey, Eric Orwoll, Jane A. Cauley, Timothy Kwok, Magnus K. Karlsson, Björn E. Rosengren, Eva Ribom, Peggy M. Cawthon, Kristine Ensrud, Enwu Liu, Faidra Laskou, Kate A. Ward, Elaine M. Dennison, Cyrus Cooper, John A. Kanis, Liesbeth Vandenput, Mattias Lorentzon, Claes Ohlsson, Dan Mellström, Helena Johansson & Eugene McCloskey, 2022, JBMR Plus, 6(12)
DOI: 10.1002/jbm4.10696
Type: article
UKRI MRC National Musculoskeletal Ageing Network: strategic prioritisation to increase healthy lifespan and minimise physical frailty
Nicholas Harvey, Peter Clegg, Elaine Dennison, Paul Greenhaff, Simon J. Griffin, Celia L. Gregson, Malcom J. Jackson, Janet M. Lord, Eugene V. McCloskey, Emma J. Stevenson, Jonathan H. Tobias, Kate Ward & Cyrus Cooper, 2022, Archives of Osteoporosis, 17(1)
DOI: 10.1007/s11657-022-01172-z
Type: article