The Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health was formed in 2017. The center includes outstanding, internationally known researchers in the areas of basic, translational, and clinical musculoskeletal research at Indiana University, Purdue University, and other academic institutions throughout the United States. These scientists are making important discoveries in the laboratory to be used to treat patients with metabolic and genetic musculoskeletal diseases, bone and muscle cancer, and trauma and tissue regeneration and to determine how to harness the benefits of exercise.
Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health
Research areas
Trauma, Regeneration, and Rehabilitation
The Trauma, Regeneration, and Rehabilitation team works to treat patients sustaining musculoskeletal injury, specifically injuries that result in acute and chronic musculoskeletal disease. These treatment goals include acute interventions, regenerative interventions for both bone and muscle, and eventually identifying the optimal means of rehabilitation for the patient to resume a normal lifestyle.
Lifestyle Modifications: Physical Activity and Nutrition
The Lifestyle Modification team's research focuses on the lifestyle, nutrition, and behavioral modifications that impact musculoskeletal health and physical function, specifically in regards to nutrition and mobility. The goals of this research are to better understand how musculoskeletal health and physical function affect the overall health of the population and how chronic diseases impact musculoskeletal health.
Mechanobiology and Muscle/Bone Crosstalk
Focusing on osteoarthritis, effects of exercise on the musculoskeletal system and the new research area of non-mechanical, systematic interactions between muscles and bone, the Mechanobiology and Muscle/Bone Crosstalk research teams include more than 30 musculoskeletal health investigators.
Precision Medicine
The Precision Medicine team is focused on genetic musculoskeletal diseases, including X-linked hypophosphatemia, autosomal dominant hypophosphatemia, and genomic, metabolomics, proteomic determinants of bone density, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia in aging and chronic disease. These investigators are focusing on the causes of these diseases and working to develop treatments and cures.
Cancer in Bone and Muscle
The Cancer in Bone and Muscle research team focuses on the interactions between bone and cancer, especially breast and prostate cancers, as well as multiple myeloma. Additionally, these investigators are interested in understanding the interactions of bone cancers and muscle cachexia.
Pediatric Musculoskeletal Disease
The Pediatric Musculoskeletal Disease team is investigating the causes of childhood musculoskeletal diseases, including those that affect bone and muscle such as diabetes, obesity, and sarcomas, with special interest on osteosarcoma. The goal is to better understand the causes of pediatric musculoskeletal diseases and how they relate to other childhood illnesses.
Faculty
David B. Burr
dburr@iupui.edu
Distinguished Professor
Pharmacologic agents to treat osteoporosis, skeletal fatigue, and microdamage-mediated remodeling
Linda A. DiMeglio
dimeglio@iu.edu
Professor of Pediatrics
Pediatric bone diseases—osteogenesis imperfect, hypophosphatasia, x-linked hypophosphatemic rickets, and steroid-induced osteoporosis
Theresa A. Guise
tguise@iu.edu
Jerry W. and Peggy S. Throgmartin Professor of Oncology
Skeletal and muscular complications of malignancy and the effect of cancer treatment on musculoskeletal health
Erik A. Imel
eimel@iu.edu
Associate Professor of Medicine
Metabolic bone diseases in adults and children—osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfect, calcium and phosphorus disorders
Melissa A. Kacena
mkacena@iupui.edu
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Interaction of bone and hematopoietic systems for treatment of metabolic bone disease, hematopoietic disorders, and fracture healing
NiCole R. Keith
nkeith@iupui.edu
Professor of Kinesiology
Exercise physiology, fitness, race and gender roles, exercise science
Ranjani N. Moorthi
rmoorthi@iu.edu
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Lifestyle, exercise, and diet modifications for musculoskeletal health patients with chronic kidney disease
Brian H. Mullis
bmullis@iupui.edu
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Acute upper and lower extremity trauma and post-traumatic reconstruction
Kelly Naugle
kmnaugle@iupui.edu
Assistant Professor
Physical activity behavior and exercise as therapeutic strategy for pain, acute to chronic pain transition
G. David D. Roodman
groodman@iu.edu
Kenneth Wiseman Professor of Medicine
Osteoclast and osteoblast activity in both normal and pathological states including Paget’s disease and multiple myeloma
Todd C. Skaar
tskaar@iu.edu
Professor of Medicine
Mechanisms of breast cancer, genomic predictors of drug response, hepatic drug metabolism
Kenneth E. White
kenewhit@iu.edu
Chancellor’s Professor
Molecular genetics of metabolic bone disorders
Teresa A. Zimmers
zimmerst@iu.edu
Professor of Surgery
Molecular, cellular, and organ system mechanisms of cachexia