Osteoarthritis (OA) is among the most prevalent chronic human health disorders and the most common form of arthritis. Specific mechanisms associated with the joint destruction during OA are largely unknown. Due to the lack of biomarkers, it is impossible to identify patients exhibiting early stages of OA, leading to severe joint destruction. Furthermore, due to poor understanding of the underlying disease mechanisms, no approved disease-modifying therapies to treat OA exist. Therefore, early detection and early intervention is critical to restore joint functions.
My translational research program is directed towards:
(1) Understanding the complex cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with joint destruction during osteoarthritis;
(2) Identifying reliable biomarkers for early identification of patients with osteoarthritis to enable early intervention using our large-scale OA biobank (over 150,000 specimens);
(3) Identifying novel therapeutic targets to stop/delay osteoarthritis and restore joint function;
(4) Understanding key endogenous mechanisms associated with fibrosis during osteoarthritis and connective tissue diseases.
Bridging Osteoarthritis Research and Patient Understanding Through Plain Language Knowledge Translation
Study Status: completed
Institute: Krembil Research Institute
Study Purpose: This project was created to help people better understand early osteoarthritis research. Some research happens before new tests or treatments are ready to be used in clinics or hospitals. This is called pre-clinical research. It often includes complex scientific topics that can be hard for patients and families to understand. The goal of this project was to explain these research ideas in plain language. Researchers and person with lived experience (PLEX) partners worked together to connect scientific terms to real-life experiences of living with arthritis.
Background: Osteoarthritis research is changing quickly. Researchers are studying things like inflammation, biomarkers, genetics, and artificial intelligence to better understand arthritis and develop future treatments. Much of this work is still in early research stages and may not yet be part of everyday care. Patient partners and researchers worked together to identify research terms that people may hear in research studies, clinics, or health information but may not fully understand. The project focused on connecting scientific ideas to daily experiences like pain, fatigue, movement, and quality of life.
Study Methods: Researchers, clinicians, and PLEX partners worked together to choose important osteoarthritis research terms that needed plain language explanations. The project focused on early scientific and pre-clinical research concepts that are becoming more common in arthritis research. For each term, the team created a scientific definition, a plain language explanation, and a short description of how the topic may affect daily life. The final resource grouped terms into topics like disease, diagnosis, pain, treatment, and personalized medicine to help connect arthritis research with patient experiences.
Key Findings: This project showed that complex arthritis research terms can be explained in ways that are easier for patients and families to understand. Working together with PLEX partners helped connect scientific research ideas to real-life experiences such as pain, tiredness, movement, work, independence, and quality of life. The project created a patient-friendly resource that explains early and pre-clinical osteoarthritis research topics such as inflammation, biomarkers, chronic pain, imaging, artificial intelligence, and future treatments. The project showed how plain language resources can help improve understanding, communication, and patient involvement in arthritis research.
Health Conditions:
Arthritis
External Links:
- Co-Director, Schroeder Arthritis Institute
- Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
- Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto
- Director, Collaborative Specialization in Musculoskeletal Sciences, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto
- Director, Arthritis Research Program, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network