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Osteoporosis

Last updated Tuesday, May 15, 2007

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Research

Is there research studying how to cure, prevent, or treat osteoporosis? Is there research studying the causes, mechanisms, or risk factors of osteoporosis?

The disease osteoporosis was ignored by medical researchers for many years. As recently as 1980 there were only a dozen grants from the National Institutes of Health about this condition. Currently, however, the situation has turned around and now there are hundreds of studies. New treatments are being discovered, new genes are being identified, new methods of prevention are being tested.

Is there research studying drugs or medications for osteoporosis?

Currently pharmaceutical companies are conducting clinical trials with medicines that have looked promising in preliminary studies. Many of these drugs don't even have a name yet.

Is there research studying non-surgical treatments for osteoporosis (therapy, lifestyle issues, etc.)?

There are also trials for a unique form of exercise which involves small, frequent vibrations. Preliminary results are encouraging. Some of the vibrating machines, however, can cause damage to the bone, so these treatments should not be used until studies are more definite.

Is there research studying surgical treatment for osteoporosis?

Studies of the effects of surgical treatment for osteoporosis involve testing the safety of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty.

Is there research studying biomedical treatments for osteoporosis (gene therapy, stem cell research, etc.)?

New genes for osteoporosis are discovered every year. This is an area of interest to many scientists. The stem cells in the bone marrow (which make the blood) interact with the cells of the bone, and scientists are working to understand these relationships.

Surgery for Osteoporosis at the University of Washington

If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-598-4288 (outside the Seattle area: 800-440-3280) to make an appointment.

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