Specialists in bone and joint disorders at the University of Aberdeen have been awarded more than £500,000, creating an outstanding opportunity for five highly talented young students to receive advanced scientific training in rheumatic disease research.
The University is one of only five UK centres to receive this prestigious award from the Oliver Bird rheumatism programme, which supports research into the prevention and treatment of rheumatism. The money will enable Professor David Reid and his colleagues in the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics to implement a comprehensive four-year training programme that will give their students experience ranging from genetics and stem cells, through to bone mass and nutrition assessment in the University's new state-of-the-art laboratories.
"The University of Aberdeen already has a well established group in bone research," said Professor Reid. "The Oliver Bird rheumatism programme allows us to broaden our interests by bringing together basic laboratory science and clinical research that is directly relevant to our patients," he continued.
The research programme for the students will focus on understanding the most common rheumatic diseases: osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and Paget's disease. They will build on previous successful studies into the genetics of these diseases and the complex interactions between genes, diet and exercise that influence bone mass and bone loss shortly after menopause. Students will use the latest imaging technology at the University to study the progressive destruction of bones and joints in arthritis and osteoporosis. Imaging will also be an essential feature in visualising how drugs called bisphosphonates act in cells to prevent bone loss.
Stem cells - 'master' cells that generate new cells - are attracting worldwide scientific interest and students will carry out research into how a disturbance in the growth of these powerful cells could cause osteoarthritis.
In the UK today, rheumatic disorders, which cover over 200 different diseases, are extremely common and affect over eight million people of all ages and the numbers are rising each year. Over three million adults are physically disabled and one in every thousand children suffers from arthritis. At a personal level, arthritis is devastating, particularly for young people in their 20s and 30s. Around 50% of people of working age who are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis cannot work after five years due to chronic pain and fatigue, depriving them of their independence and self-esteem.
The research theme Professor Reid has designed for the students creates a collaboration between internationally-recognised researchers spanning the entire field of bone and joint disorders. It provides a stimulating environment for students with the aim of setting them on a career path in rheumatic disease research.
"The newly formed Oliver Bird Collaborative Centre is a phenomenal opportunity for students to play an important part in the translation of science into the care of patients," added Professor Reid.