Skeletal Structure Physiology and Disease – SSPD

Topics

• Mechanisms of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders including degenerative joint diseases (e.g., osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc degeneration, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, temporomandibular joint disorders), bone infection, fracture, trauma, and aging.
• Basic and clinical studies of calciotropic hormones and paracrine factors involved in bone and cartilage biology in humans and animal models, metabolic bone diseases [e.g., osteoporosis, osteopenia, osteogenesis imperfecta, Paget’s disease of bone, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) induced metabolic bone diseases (CKD-MBD), and diseases of mineral ion homeostasis associated with abnormalities of parathyroid hormone, Vitamin D, calcitonin and other hormonal and paracrine factors.
• Diseases of heterotopic ossification.
• Osteoimmunology; including osteoclast biology, impact of inflammatory disease on the skeleton such as rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, diabetes.
• Application of imaging technologies (e.g., MRI, QCT/ìCT, PET/CT, ultrasound) for structural characterization and disease prognostics of bone, cartilage, meniscus, intervertebral disc, temporomandibular joint disc, tendon, and ligament.
• In vitro and animal models of molecular pathogenesis and biology of osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma, assessing functional effects of primary tumors and metastasis to bone.
• Mechanobiology and biomechanics of bone and joints.
• Identification of biomarkers for bone and joint diseases.
• Biology and pathology of joint replacement including fixation, osseointegration, wear and loosening.
• Molecular mechanisms of joint pain.
• Impact of the microbiome and dysbiosis on skeletal structures and disease.
• Inter-organ crosstalk in skeletal homeostasis and disease.

Shared Interests and Overlaps

There are shared interests with Skeletal Development, Repair and Regeneration [SDRR] in the investigation related to bone and cartilage. Applications that address the development, repair, and regeneration of skeletal tissues may be reviewed in SDRR, whereas applications that address the biomechanical and structural changes related to degenerative bone and joint diseases may be reviewed in SSPD.

There are shared interests with Cell Signaling and Molecular Endocrinology [CSME] in the investigation of signaling pathways of peptide hormones and their receptors. Applications that focus on steroid hormone signaling regulation of muscle and bone cells may be reviewed in CSME, whereas applications focused on paracrine factors involved in bone regulation may be reviewed in SSPD. 

There are shared interests with Nutrition and Metabolism in Health and Disease [NMHD] in the investigation of nutrients effects on bone diseases. Applications that focus on signaling pathways that modulate nutrients effects on bone physiology may be reviewed in NMHD, whereas applications focused on the effects of vitamins and nutrients on bone and joints related diseases may be reviewed in SSPD. 

There are shared interests with Aging Systems and Geriatrics [ASG] in the investigation of osteoporosis. Applications focused on multicomponent, pleiotropic and mechanism-driven intervention studies addressing age-related changes may be reviewed in ASG, whereas applications addressing basic and clinical studies of calciotropic hormones and paracrine factors in osteoporosis may be reviewed in SSPD. 

There are shared interests with Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Sciences [MRS] in the areas of biomechanics and kinematics aspects of joint movement, as well as identification of imaging biomarkers for musculoskeletal diseases. Applications that focus on modeling and rehabilitative therapeutic interventions to improve spine and joint function, and biomechanics may be reviewed in MRS. Applications that focus on animal models to evaluate the efficacy and functional outcomes of cell- and molecular-based therapies on joint movement and to identify biological markers for bone and joint diseases may be reviewed in SSPD. 

There are shared interests with Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Sciences [ODCS] in the investigation of temporomandibular joint related disorders. Applications that focus on mechanisms and biomechanics of mastication may be reviewed in ODCS, whereas applications that focus on biomechanics, osteoarthritis and cartilage biology of temporomandibular joint may be reviewed in SSPD. 

There are shared interests with Skin and Connective Tissue and Sciences [SCTS] in the investigation of inflammatory aspects of degenerative joint diseases. Applications that address the inflammatory mechanisms in connective tissues may be reviewed in SCTS, whereas applications that address the inflammatory mechanisms in osteoarthritis may be reviewed in SSPD.