About the department

Department of Musculoskeletal Disease

Based on the studies for the etiologies of disorders impairing locomotive functions of the elderly, especially lumbar spondylosis, osteoarthritis, and sarcopenia, we will develop novel diagnostic methods and therapeutics for each patients.

Research Focus

To elucidate molecular pathogenesis of geriatric spinal disorders, such as lumbar spinal stenosis, the genetic aspects of the diseases are studied by familial and populational genomic analyses.
By genetic analysis of a mouse strain developing late onset spontaneous osteoarthritis, a novel mechanism of chondrocytic cell death leading cartilage degeneration has been identied. Based on the finding, development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategy of osteoarthrits is conducting.
Using multiple experimental tools such as cell culture, genetically-engineered mouse models, geriatric animals, and human subjects, we will clarify etiology and pathophysiology of sarcopenia and also identify biomarkers for this disease.

Members

Professor	Ken Watanabe
Associate Professor	Tohru Hosoyama
Research Fellow	Kiyo-aki Ishii
Research Student	Takafumi Mizuno
	Hiroki Iida
	Jun Fukui
Research Assistant	Minako Kawai-Takaishi
	Kiyomi Kato
	Megumi Maruyama