Focusing on the leading chronic non-communicable disorders of bone, muscle and joint (osteoporosis, sarcopenia, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis), the network will galvanize a truly bench to bedside discovery science approach to provide a strong evidence base for health policy, underpinning a step change in UK musculoskeletal ageing research capability/capacity, and promoting increased healthspan. The network will achieve these aims through focused work themes:
Research Priorities
Establish key tractable research priorities for healthy musculoskeletal ageing
Joint resource platform
Develop a joint resource platform hosting datasets, deeply phenotyped cohorts, curated standardised protocols and toolkits for clinical, physiological, molecular, imaging and functional assessment of the musculoskeletal system across the lifecourse
Novel collaborative studies
Establish a sustainable programme of studies addressing the identification, development and evaluation of interventions to retard the age-related decline in musculoskeletal intrinsic capacity across the lifecourse and in diverse populations, focusing on the four key disorders and using our discovery science to inform content and targeting of interventions
Knowledge transfer and ECR support
Disseminate research findings and best practice, and increase capacity by supporting ECRs (national events, ECR workshops, grant writing support)