Arthritis Research Grants 2009
Arthritis Australia has announced the recipients of the 2009 Arthritis Australia & State and Territory Affiliates Grant.
For 2009, the Arthritis Australia National Research Program has been able to fund an unprecendented number of high quality research projects.
Dr Brett Graham - School of Biomedical Science, University of Newcastle
Spinal mechanisms of chronic pain in arthritis
This study proposes to adopt the highly successful rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease models to study the mechanisms underlying pain in RA. The knowledge gained using this approach will identiify new potential drug targets to provide pain relief for patients suffering from RA.
Dr Graham is an early career researcher whose experimental approach has led to publication of several important papers in the field of spinal pain processing mechanisms. Dr Graham has given a number of invited seminars both nationally and internationally (Newcastle 2004, 2005, 2007; John Curtin School of Medical Research 2003, 2004, 2008; University College London 2005; University of Arizona 2003).
Dr Andrew Briggs - School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology
Subregional bone mineral density in the lumbar spine: improving osteoporosis assessment
Currently, our ability to predict vertebral fracture risk from standard tests of bone mineral density (BMD) is poor. Standard tests provide just an average measure of BMD and this does not reflect the distribution of minimal infecting dose (MID) inside the spine. This study aims at progressing on earlier preliminary work developed to measure BMD in specific areas within vertebrae using existing tools, commonly used in clinical practice.
Dr Briggs is a senior researcher and a clinical physiotherapist. He has written in excess of fifteen high impact publications over the past five years.
Miss Stephanie Gauci - Department of Paediatrics, Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
The role of collagen II fragments in driving cellular hypertrophy in OA; Studies with the collagen II knock-in mouse
Cartilage in joints enlarges or swells up in early osteoarthritis. This study will establish a better understanding of how collagen contributes to the progressive degradation of cartilage.
During her PhD candidature from 2003 - 2008, Stephanie wrote a thesis entitles 'Collagenase cleavage of type II collagen is essential for normal skeletal growth and development' and has since written an impressive number of high impact publications.
Dr Vidya Limaye - Department of Rheumatology, Royal Adelaide Hospital
A South Australian Database for patients with biopsy-proven inflammatory myositis
This study will continue recruitment of patients with biopsy-proven inflammatory myositis and will record their DNA and serum details in an Access Database store. The aim is also to continue with measurement of genes and muscle specific antibodies as the register accrues. Myositis is a rare disease in which the muscle fibres and skin are inflamed and damaged, caused by problems of the immune system, resulting in muscle weakness.
Dr Limaye is a staff specialist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital who has previously received an NHMRC-funded scholarship. In 2003, Dr Limaye received the Young Investigator Award at the 45th Australia Rheumatology Association - Annual Scientific Meeting in Sydney. She has conducted numerous presentations and written an impressive number of high impact publications.
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