Grant: Operating Grant - PA: IMHA New investigators - Bridge Funding

Bone injuries are costly, challenging and common clinical problems which present an important health care issue as 5-10% of all fractures have delayed or impaired fracture healing. However, our current understanding of fracture healing at the molecular and cellular level is limited. Yet such knowledge is critical to advance treatment options to optimize bone repair and remodeling. While it is known that inflammatory cells are important for fracture healing, the interplay of the immune system and bone repair remains unclear. This emerging field of osteoimmunology requires further study to identify and characterize the gene targets that regulate bone formation to develop new approaches to predictably improve fracture healing. The proposed research will identify and characterize the relevant immunological cell types and key signaling pathways that direct fracture repair through bone forming cells. The outcomes of this research will advance our knowledge of the fracture repair process as modulated through the immune system which is currently lacking and provide insight into the possible therapeutic targets. This will ultimately provide better treatment strategies for impaired fracture healing and improve overall bone health to promote earlier restoration of mobility and independence.