The role of size, shape and structure of bones and joints in explaining common musculoskeletal diseases

Year of award: 2017

Grantholders

  • Prof Jonathan Tobias

    University of Bristol

  • Dr Celia Gregson

    University of Bristol

  • Prof George Davey Smith

    University of Bristol

  • Prof David Evans

    University of Queensland

  • Prof Timothy Cootes

    University of Manchester

  • Prof Richard Aspden

    University of Aberdeen

  • Prof Nicholas Harvey

    University of Southampton

  • Dr Deborah Mason

    Cardiff University

Project summary

Musculoskeletal diseases can have a big impact on society and it is not known how far the structure of bones and joints contribute to the development of these diseases.

We will look at a special type of X-ray scan used to measure bone density in 100,000 people who are being recalled for further scanning by UK Biobank, which comprises a large sample of people aged 40-69 years recruited from the UK in 2007-2012. We will determine whether the shape of the hip and knee joint are risk factors for developing hip and knee osteoarthritis and we will evaluate risk factors for spine fractures and scoliosis (spinal curvature). We will also look at which genes are associated with a person’s likelihood of developing musculoskeletal disease.

Our findings will improve our understanding of how the size, shape and structure of bones and joints contribute to the development of common musculoskeletal diseases, providing new opportunities for their diagnosis, prevention and treatment.