Basic research

Various diseases or drugs work on different bone surfaces (trabecular, endosteal, periosteal and Haversian surfaces). At which position the changes take place, can be measured exactly by determining the cross-sectional geometry using pQCT. In combination with Leonardo Mechanography for the analysis of muscle function, the diagnostic approach of the functional muscle-bone unit and for basic research is completed.  

Our priorities in the field of basic research:

Testing of new drugs for osteoporosis in animal models

Over the last 20 years the effectiveness of many medications for osteoporosis (PTH, bisphosphonates, SERMs) in the preclinical phase was tested using pQCT. The higher sensitivity of the selective measurement in vivo produces results faster and with fewer laboratory animals.

Characterisation of different knock-out models in mice

Many genes affect bone strength. Knock-out mouse models are used to selectively disable one or several genes. This allows to determine the influence of these genes on bone properties such as mass, density and geometry, and to explore new treatments of or genetic disorders more quickly.