Understanding the role of genes in common musculoskeletal diseases and identifying new treatments

This research cluster will harness the interplay of genetics, cells and matrix to deliver insights into musculoskeletal health and new therapies in musculoskeletal disease. Using a variety of functional genomics techniques we aim to:

• boost our understanding of musculoskeletal health and disease
• generate therapeutic targets for future studies
• provide tools and training for the wider community

Understanding the role of genes in common musculoskeletal diseases

The musculoskeletal system describes the bones, joints, cartilage, and soft tissues of the body that are responsible for movement. Despite huge advances in genetic research, common diseases of the musculoskeletal (MSK) system such as osteoarthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome cause more years of disability and pain than any other disease class. Partly due to its complexity, MSK is under-researched and while current treatments often rely on a combination of analgesics, physiotherapy, and surgery, treatments based on a deeper biological understanding could help prevent MSK diseases from worsening.

Our Musculoskeletal Cluster will explore the genetic basis of MSK health and disease, aiming to revolutionise our understanding of the way functional genomics underpin disease. By collecting waste tissue at surgery, we’ll look at the internal biology of cells and other molecules that make up the tissue (called the matrix), that are affected by the disease. This will help us to link the genetic variations to changes in biological function, creating a major resource for other MSK researchers. Careful interpretation of the results will help to decide which genes and pathways are best suited as potential drug targets.

A second part of the study will help to define the effects of interfering with pathways on how the cells and tissues behave. We’ll build robotic “bioreactors” – robots to mimic the physical forces that these MSK tissues experience in the body. This will allow us to look at the interaction between disease genes and mechanical forces in the body.

By building on this expertise, we hope to transform the discovery and testing of new treatment targets for MSK diseases, reshaping MSK medicine over the next decade.