Osteoporosis

There are important differences in bone formation, remodeling and fracture risk between men and women. Women begin with lower bone density than men, and they lose bone mass at a faster rate than men as they age.

Eighty percent of people affected by osteoporosis are women, and 40 percent of women in the U.S. will experience at least one fragility-related fracture during their lives. In aging women, osteoporosis is the leading cause of disability and a major cause of morbidity and mortality.

Areas of focus

Osteoporosis-related focus areas in the Women's Health Research Center include:

• Molecular basis of bone remodeling defects
• Effects of estrogen on gene expression related to bone matrix proteins, growth factors, cytokines and estrogen signaling

Faculty involved

Center faculty members involved in osteoporosis research include:

• Sundeep Khosla, M.D.
• Merry Jo Oursler, Ph.D.
• Thomas C. Spelsberg, Ph.D.
• Jennifer J. Westendorf, Ph.D.