Osteoporosis and Bone Disease: Big Steps Forward

17 May 2016

Free Public Lecture

Osteoporosis and Bone Disease: Big Steps Forward

The Auckland Medical Research Foundation is proud to have supported the Bone and Joint Research Group for over 35 years. In 1984 Professor Ian Reid, who leads the group’s clinical studies, received the first of many AMRF fellowships and grants, funded by generous donations and benefactors.

In the 1980s, Professor Reid performed the first successful trial of bisphosphonates, drugs which slow or stop the natural process that dissolves bone tissue. He addressed the novel question of whether these agents could manage osteoporosis, where bones become brittle and fragile. With initial positive responses of increased bone density in patients, he worked with pharmaceutical companies as they improved the drug formulations to be more potent, allowing for the drug to only need to be taken yearly or even once every five years. Today bisphosphonate drugs can result in a 50% reduction in fracture risk in those with osteoporosis.

In addition, Professor Reid has led the development of the use of potent bisphosphonates in Paget’s disease, the debilitating bone condition that has affected up to 7% of older New Zealanders. It’s a chronic, painful disorder that can result in enlarged and misshapen bones.

Keeping bones strong over a lifetime is a longstanding challenge in medical health research and treatment.

When: Wednesday, 25 May 2016, 7pm

Where: AMRF Auditorium

Ground Floor, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences

The University of Auckland

85 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland

Please click here to view the Lecture flyer and click here to read our recent newsletter.

Please click here to register for the event.

The Auckland Medical Research Foundation is a major independent funding agency and Charitable Trust that provides contestable funding for medical research based in the greater Auckland region. Over the past 60 years the Auckland Medical Research Foundation has distributed over $67 million in funding to a wide range of research activities - in the region of $3-5 million annually.

For further information see our website at www.medicalresearch.org.nz

ENDS

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