The work group’s research focus is the musculoskeletal system (locomotor system) under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. The correlation between the form and function of cartilage and bone tissue, as well as pathological changes in these tissues as found in osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, are investigated. Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are the most common diseases of the locomotor system.
- In-vivo analysis of articular cartilage using
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Determinants of mechanical strength of the skeletal system in the elderly and implications for fracture risk predictions due to osteoporosis
- Phenotypic characterization of the skeletal system in transgenic mice
In-vivo analysis of articular cartilage using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Specially developed imaging methods allow the work group to analyze the morphology (shape) of articular in-vivo cartilage quantitatively and in 3D, with a high level of accuracy. The project aims to characterize the in-vivo deformation behavior of articular cartilage during physical activity, to research the functional adaptation processes of cartilage tissue under mechanical conditions (stress, immobilization) and to characterize the risk factors of osteoarthritis in epidemiological studies. There is cooperation in numerous large studies with American work groups (ie. Framingham Osteoarthritis Study, Boston, MAK Study Chicago), which are sponsored by the National Institute of Health (NIH). The work group also functions as a specialized service center for international partners. In cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, methods are developed to determine the influence of so-called "structure-modifying osteoarthritis medication” (SMOADs) on cartilage loss.
Graphical overview of the methods used: click here
Graphical overview of the projects: click here.
Determinants of mechanical strength of the skeletal system in the elderly and their relevance to fracture risk prediction in osteoporosis
This project explores the factors that determine the mechanical competence of the skeletal system and its variability in different individuals. It is carried out by a work group in cooperation with Dr. med Eva-Maria Lochmüller (1st Women's University Clinic at the Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich)and seeks to identify the measurement methods and areas of application in osteoporosis, thereby enabling the most reliable fracture risk prediction. The groups have worked on several major experimental biomechanical projects, which have been supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG – German research network). They are also involved in the development of modern analytical procedures, as well as computer-simulation processes to improve the prediction of fracture risk in osteoporosis. These are carried out in collaboration with the following research groups led by Prof. Dr. Claus Glüer (Medical Physics Kiel), Prof. Dr. Thomas Link (Department of Radiology, University of Southern California, San Francisco) and Prof. Dr. Ralph Müller (Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich).
A current DFG project headed by Eckstein, Lochmüller, Link and Müller is working on characterizing the micro-architecture of trabecular bone in the elderly and its influence on fracture risk. This group uses a special micro-CT apparatus (μCT) with which the bone can be mapped non-destructively with a resolution of <20 microns. This project closely examines whether differences exist between older men and older women in the micro-architecture of the trabecular bone. It also investigates the influence of age and whether micro-architecture, independent of bone density, provides a predictive value for the mechanical competence of bones and for fracture risk. Moreover, the project will analyze with what degree of reliability bone structure can be determined with the currently available high-precision clinical procedures and whether the prediction of fracture risk can be improved.
Phenotypical characterization of the skeletal system of transgenic mice
The afore-mentioned techniques, the μCT in particular, can be used to investigate the skeletal characteristics of genetically modified (transgenic) mice. Molecular factors influencing bone metabolism and bone morphology can be analyzed using specific genetic interventions. This contributes to the development of more efficient medication. The bone structure of mice with an overexpression of various components of the growth hormone IGF system (eg, growth hormone and binding protein IGF -2) were investigated by work groups at Gene Center LMU Munich headed by Prof. Dr. Eckhard Wolf in collaboration with work groups at the department of Experimental Trauma Surgery Hamburg led by Prof. Dr. Michael Amling. A current study on the influence of mechanical stimulation on the micro-architecture of trabecular bone in mice is being conducted in collaboration with Prof. Andrew Pitsillides (Royal Veterinary College, London). There has been close cooperation between the Institute of Biomechanics at the Paracelsus Medical University and the A&E Hospital Murnau, Austria (Prof. Dr. rer. Nat. Peter Augat) in these projects since 2005.
-
Large-scale integrating project (CP-IP 228929-1) in the 7th framework of the European Union (FP7-NMP-2008-LARGE-2) from 02/2010 to 01/2014
Prof. Dr. Felix Eckstein, partner (work packages 2 and 3)
Topic: Development of novel nanotechnology based diagnostic systems for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis (NanoDiaRA)
Scope of Funding: 392.000€ -
UCSF Vendor Contract No. 9000011523 from 7/2008 to 12/2010
Topic: Quantitative Cartilage Analysis in a Sample of OA Initiative Index Knees
Scope of the contract: 660.000 US$ -
R01 Grant AR054806 NIH (National Institutes of Health) from 04/2008 to 03/2013
Prof. Dr. Felix Eckstein, Principal Investigator of the subcontract with Dr. Leena Sharma, MD (Principal Investigator of the project) Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
Topic: Relationship of Hip Muscle Group Weakness to Deterioration of the OA knee by MRI.
Scope of Subcontract: U.S. $ 60,000 -
P60 Grant AR048098 NIH (National Institute of Health) from 08/2007 to 07/2012
Prof. Dr. Felix Eckstein, Principal Investigator of the subcontract, with Prof. Dr. Leena Sharma, MD (Principal Investigator of the project) and Prof. Dr. Richart Pope (Principal Investigator of the Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Center), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
Topic: Potential Role of Beneficial Hip Muscles in Knee Osteoarthritis.
Scope of Subcontract: U.S.$ 180,000 -
UCSF Vendor Contract No. 9000011571 from 8/2008 to 6/2009
Topic: Baseline, 12, and 24 Month Quantitative Cartilage Analysis in a Sample of 107 OA Initiative Index Knees
Scope of the contract: 196.000 US$ -
American College of Radiology Grant from 01/ 2007 to 12/2008
Prof. Dr. Felix Eckstein, Principal Investigator of the Subrecipient Agreement, with Dr. Tim Mosher, Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Milton Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania (Principal Investigator of the Project)
Topic: Reproducibility and Stability of Measures of Cartilage Morphology with 3 Tesla MR imaging
Scope: U.S. $ 81,000 -
R01 NIH Grant AR052528-01A2 (National Institute of Health) from 07/2006 to 06/2011
Prof. Dr. Felix Eckstein, Principal Investigator of the subcontract, with Dr. Stephen Messier, Ph.D., Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, USA (Principal Investigator of the Project)
Topic: Intensive Dietary Restriction with Exercise in Arthritis
Scope: U.S. $ 50,000 -
R01 NIH Grant HD043500 (National Institute of Health) from 06/2005 to 12/2007
Prof. Dr. Felix Eckstein, Principal Investigator of the subcontract, with Dr. Leena Sharma, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, MI, USA (Principal Investigator of the Project)
Topic: Laxity and Malalignment in a large cohort study of OA (MOST).
Scope: U.S. $ 200,000 -
R01 NIH Grant AR48216 (National Institute of Health) from 03/ 2002 to 02/2007
Prof. Dr. Felix Eckstein, Consultant, with Dr. Leena Sharma, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, MI, USA (Principal Investigator of the project)
Topic: Progression of Knee OA: The role of local factors (MAK).
Scope: U.S. $ 260,000 -
Arthritis Foundation Clinical Sciences Grant from 09/2001 to 08/2006
Prof. Dr. Felix Eckstein, Principal Investigator of the subcontract, with Dr. David T. Felson MD, MPH Boston University, MA (Principal Investigator of the project)
Topic: Correlates of Articular Cartilage Volume and Thickness in the Framingham Subjects.
Scope: U.S. $ 135,000 -
Center Grant NIH # P60 AR47785 (National Institute of Health) from 09/ 2001 to 08/2006
Prof. Dr. Felix Eckstein, Principal Investigator of the subcontract, with Dr. David T. Felson MD, MPH, Boston University, MA (Principal Investigator of the project)
Topic: Correlates of Articular Cartilage Thickness in Knees of Subjects in the Framingham Study.
Scope: U.S. $ 135,000 -
Non-cash donations Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (LO 730/3-1 and 3-2) from 01/2003 to 12/2005
Prof. Dr. Felix Eckstein as co-applicant together with Dr. EM Lochmüller
(1st Women's University Clinic of LMU Munich) and Prof. Dr. T. Link (Institute of Diagnostic Radiography ) at the TU Munich
Topic: Skeletal Micro Structure and Mechanical Competence in the Elderly.
Scope: approximately € 150,000 -
NIH (National Institutes of Health) Consultancy from 10/2004 to 06/2005
Prof. Dr. Felix Eckstein, Consultant, with Dr. Michael Nevitt, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA (Principal Investigator of the project)
Topic: Test-Retest Cartilage Volume Analysis for Cross Validation and Coil Comparison in the Osteoarthritis Initiative Pilot Study.
Scope: U.S. $ 21,000 -
Non-cash donations (cont'd) Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (GR 1638/5-2) from o7/2002 to 06/2004
Prof. Dr. Felix Eckstein as co-applicant together with Prof. Dr. H. Graichen (Orthopedic Clinic, Univ. Frankfurt) and Prof. Dr. T. Vogl (Diagnostic Radiology, Univ. Frankfurt)
Topic: 3D open-MRI Analysis of Functional Joint Biomechanics.
Scope: approximately € 100,000
Research focus
Musculoskeletal disorders, biomechanics and sports medicine
Overview:
This research focus pools the preclinical and clinical research activities in the fields of musculoskeletal disorders, biomechanics and sports medicine at the following institutions:
- Paracelsus Medical University
- Salzburg University Clinics
- Faculty of Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Sports Sciences
- A & E Hospital Murnau, Austria (biomechanical laboratory)
A growing interest in this area is attributed to the increasing number of degenerative diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. This is linked to an increase in sports injuries, increased life expectancy (resulting in osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, fractures) and greater patient expectations regarding quality of life. The WHO has named this decade the “Bone and Joint Decade” (2001 - 2010), thereby drawing attention to the need for research and political support in this area. Salzburg is an ideal location for this, as many internationally renowned work groups on musculoskeletal diseases, biomechanics and sports medicine are present in this region.
The research focus specifically seeks to:
- strengthen its profile
- facilitate project cooperation between institutes and clinics
- create a synergy in the use of resources (equipment) and methods
- provide a platform for scientific projects which include young scientists
- initiate joint research ventures.
