PGP 2008-2009 | PGP 2009-2010 | PGP 2010-2011
SRP 2009-2010 | SRP 2010-2011
DAP: 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011
PPG: 2008 | 2009 | 2010
SRI in OA 2003-2008 | SRI in IJD 2006-2011 | SRI in BIO 2008-2012
SRID: 2007-2008 | 2006-2007 | 2005-2006 | 2004-2005 | 2003-2005 | 2002-2004

Research Grants Awards

Research funding: 2006-2007

SRID - Inflammatory Joint Disease
SRID - Restoration of Joint Function
SRID - Osteoarthritis

SRID - Inflammatory Joint Disease

Role of osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast activation in joint destruction in degenerative and inflammatory joint diseases
Principal Investigator: Artur J. de Brum-Fernandes
Co-Principal Investigators: M. Manolson, S. Komarova, J. Dixon, S. Sims, G. Boire

Abstract
Osteoclasts (OCs) are cells specialized in bone resorption. They mediate bone and joint destruction in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and are implicated in Osteoarthritis (OA). We have found that the capacity to generate OCs from circulating blood precursors varies in a normal population, roughly dividing individuals into high and low differentiators. We will test the hypothesis that variations in this capacity to generate OCs correlate with joint destruction in OA and RA patients. We will examine multiple parameters characterizing OCs formation in patients with RA and OA and a normal population and study whether they are related to the presence of disease or its severity. This project will define the osteoclastic parameters that most strongly correlate with OA or RA presence or disease severity. It may help the identification of subpopulations of patients more at risk of developing severe disease and allow early and aggressive intervention aimed at avoiding long term disability.

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SRID - Bioengineering for Joint Reconstruction

Autologous embryonic stem cell-based therapy for articular cartilage repair in a large animal model: preparation of cell lines

Principal Investigator: Sheila Lavery
Co-Principal Investigators: L. Smith, J. Henderson, M. Underhill

Abstract
Articular cartilage when injured or in osteoarthritis has a poor capacity to heal. A recent therapy to enhance cartilage repair is the delivery of reparative cells into the site of damage. The cells may be the patient’s own cartilage cells or stem cells obtained from another tissue. These techniques often require 2 surgeries and sometimes the number of cells available are limited or of poor quality, especially in older patients where repair is most hampered. Our long-term goal is to attempt to provide a youthful, vigorous reparative population of autologous cells for articular cartilage repair. The cell lines would be established using the animals’ own cells (a skin cell nucleus will be combined with an egg to create an embryo in the laboratory). Specific cells from the embryo (< 7 days old) would be multiplied to provide a limitless supply of cells for repair. They would subsequently be induced in a permissive environment to become cartilage cells and, only when optimized, transplanted into a large animal animal model to determine their efficacy for enhancing cartilage repair. This proposal focuses on the preparation of cartilage cells in culture.

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SRID - Osteoarthritis

Pharmacist-initiated Intervention Trial in OsteoArthritis (PhIT-OA)

Principal Investigator: Carlo Marra

Abstract
Osteoarthritis, the leading cause of disability in the elderly, is reaching epidemic proportions with continued growth anticipated. Many care gaps exist in the diagnosis and provision of care for this condition. For example, despite having chronic knee pain, few people are properly evaluated or offered appropriate treatment. Since people see their pharmacists much more frequently than their family practitioners, an opportunity exists for pharmacists to screen for osteoarthritis and launch a multidisciplinary care intervention that could be both effective and economically feasible.
 

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