These centers conduct basic, laboratory, and clinical research aimed at understanding the causes, treatment options, and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases. In the last decade, however, research has shown that there is more to the disorder than aging alone. Many researchers are trying to discover where in that cascade of events things go wrong. By understanding what goes wrong, they hope to find new ways to prevent or treat osteoarthritis. Some key areas of research are described below.
Animals help researchers understand how diseases work and why they occur.
In osteoarthritis, animal models help researchers learn many things about osteoarthritis. They help reveal what happens to cartilage, how treatment strategies might work, and what might prevent the disease. Animal models also help scientists study osteoarthritis in very early stages, before it causes joint damage. They seek specific abnormalities in the blood, joint fluid, or urine of people with the disease. Other scientists use new technologies to analyze differences in cartilage from different joints.