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THE CIHR GROUP IN SKELETAL DEVELOPMENT & REMODELING
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Musculoskeletal disorders have a major impact on the health of the aging population. In their various forms, they comprise 30 to 40% of all health care claims. The total economic impact of arthritis, osteoporosis, and related diseases in Canada exceeds $17 billion per year. Consequently, research into musculoskeletal disease is a high priority for many pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms.
The CIHR Group in Skeletal Development and Remodeling provides a vigorous interdisciplinary environment for training at the graduate and postgraduate levels. The Group is part of a larger program of basic, applied, and clinical research in musculoskeletal health at The University of Western Ontario. Through this program, members of the CIHR Group interact with colleagues in orthopedics, rheumatology, metabolic bone disease, and dentistry. Members of the CIHR Group are participants in the Canadian Arthritis Network, a Network of Centres of Excellence funded by the federal government. |
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DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH
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| Basic research is carried out on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the formation and destruction of bone and cartilage, and the diagnosis and treatment of skeletal and dental diseases. Experimental approaches include protein chemistry, molecular biology, physical chemistry, cell biology, patch clamp and calcium fluorescence. The fundamental knowledge obtained from these studies is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis and treatment of diseases such as osteoporosis, arthritis and periodontitis, and pathological calcifications such as kidney stones. |
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SOURCES OF SUPPORT
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Research is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), The Arthritis Society, the Canadian Arthritis Network, and pharmaceutical and biotech companies. We are seeking new partnerships with industries in the fields of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medical/dental devices. |
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Thank-you for visiting CIHRSkeletal.ca!
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