Osteoarthritis affects 1.8 million Australians at any given time. This painful condition in which cartilage wears out causing ongoing pain and reduction in joint movements, making day to day activities, such as washing up or walking upstairs a painful and difficult prospect.
There is little understood in regard the molecular factors that cause Osteoarthritis but if we understood the why and how it happens we may be able to develop a better treatment to relieve the pain and discomfort for millions of people worldwide.
And that’s exactly what Professor Yin Xiao is hoping for through his research into a specific molecule that has been shown to be a marker for the onset of Osteoarthritis. Professor Xiao will use special cell and molecular biology techniques to advance his knowledge of these molecule and the factors that drive the progression of Osteoarthritis.
From understanding the role of this molecule and its role in Osteoarthritis progression he hopes to identify this as a target for treatment. This could mean the development of a new and effective treatment for Osteoarthritis that may be able to prevent or halt the progression of the disease, an exciting prospect for aging populations worldwide.
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