GRANT. A new method for early detection of osteoarthritis is being developed based on a scientific discovery made in Sahlgrenska Academy. A national collaborative project, headed by Researcher Niclas Karlsson of the Institute of Biomedicine, has just received a research grant from AFA Insurance.
The project is based on newly discovered biomarkers that were identified by Niclas Karlsson and his colleagues.
“It involves small biomolecular changes in the joints’ self-lubricating proteins that can be used to detect osteoarthritis at an early stage,” says Niclas Karlsson, Associate Professor at the Department of Medical Chemistry and Cell Biology.
Niclas Karlsson now heads a national initiative that brings together researchers, rehabilitation experts and clinicians in Gothenburg, Stockholm and Lund. Research on osteoarthritis is important, as it is one of the major public health problems in an aging society. Researchers will carefully select samples from patients at the university hospitals in Gothenburg, Stockholm and Lund as well as from Hässelby Clinic. Through bioanalysis and mass spectrometry, researchers intend to find molecular differences between late stage osteoarthritis that requires operation and early stages of osteoarthritis that can be handled with training.
“We also intend to find the molecular pattern that can help us predict osteoarthrithis in a patient group that has an increased risk of acquiring osteoarthrithis due to previous joint injury,” says Niclas Karlsson.
The project is well in line with AFA Insurance’s ambition of supporting research that can reduce work related injuries and long-term sick-leave. AFA has, therefore, chosen to grant the project nearly four million SEK.
“It is a dream come through to have been given this opportunity to follow the project all they way from discovery to the possibility of being able to make a difference for the patients. For patients diagnosed in the early stage there are a greater chances of delaying or halting further progression of their disease ,” says Niclas Karlsson and continue,
“I am proud to be able to lead a project with so many expert and dedicated colleagues and am grateful to the patients that allow us to take samples on behalf of the research.”
The following researchers are involved in the project:
- Niclas Karlsson, Gothenburg University
- ena Björkman and Ola Rolfson, Gothenburg University and Sahlgrenska University Hospital
- Carina Thorstensson, BOA Registry and Gothenburg University
- Sebastian Kalamaski and André Struglics, Lund University
- Cecilia Aulin and Thomas Eisler, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge and Karolinska Institutet
- Kaisa Fritzell, Hässelby Health Center
- Tannin Schmidt, University of Calgary
Monica Bertilsson also receives funding
With this call for proposals, AFA Insurance awarded nearly SEK 19 million to research on work environments and occupational health. At Sahlgrenska Academy, Monica Bertilsson of the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine has also been awarded funding. Her project involves what employers know and what they need to know to be able to help support their depressed employees. This project will receive nearly three million SEK from AFA.
https://www.afaforsakring.se/nyhetsrum/pressmeddelanden/2015/12/nara-19-miljoner-kronor-till-forskning-inom-arbetsmiljo-och-halsa/
