Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis but we still do not know much about what causes it. OA is a degenerative joint tissue disease and occurs when the cartilage in joints begins to wear away. This cartilage is necessary for proper joint function and movement because it covers and protects the end of the bone. Pain, stiffness, swelling and bone-on-bone movement occurs when the cartilage wears away. This can result in a loss of physical function and a progressive decrease in the quality of life for individuals with OA. Approximately 9.6% of men and 18% of women over the age of sixty currently suffer from severe forms of OA, with billions of tax dollars going into treatment and support. Current available medications for the disease focus on relieving pain and swelling but do not treat the underlying cause of osteoarthritis. We now know that many different factors, such as our genes and the environment, influence the development of OA. Understanding how these factors interact to cause OA progression has the potential to improve the quality of life for millions of Canadians and people around the world. We are conducting research to look at changes in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of osteoarthritis patients, as well as effects of the environment on DNA. DNA is the site of biological information storage that an individual inherits from his or her parents. This research is part of a collaborative effort to identify new genetic and environmental factors associated with the development of OA. Based on previous research, we have identified areas of genes (composed of DNA) that have been environmentally altered and could be used to better understand OA progression. Validation of these results is the next step. My research will focus on confirming these results in a larger population; using patients who are currently enrolled in the Newfoundland Osteoarthritis Study (NFOAS), an ongoing hospital-based case-control study. Previously collected specimens from patients undergoing joint replacement surgery will be studied. Numerous samples from OA patients and healthy individuals will be assessed for changes in the DNA. Identifying environmentally-triggered changes in DNA can provide new information on OA progression. This research could help detect high-risk patients and assist in the development of new medical treatments. Which, in turn, could improve the quality of life for millions of Canadians living with debilitating osteoarthritis and save millions of dollars in health care costs.