An Integrative Approach to Advancing Bone Quality and Quantity Across the Lifespan
Project Summary: Osteoporosis and other bone diseases affect millions of Canadians, with many of these conditions influencing health across the lifespan. However, care and research remain siloed and reactive, often focusing on late-life disease. This Grand Challenge team aims to transform the understanding of osteoporosis and bone disease by:
(1) developing new in vivo 3D methods to map trabecular bone microarchitecture using peripheral CT scanning, and
(2) launching a national initiative to build an integrated, lifespan-oriented bone health database.
These innovations will integrate physical function, imaging, and biomarker data across disciplines and institutions, enabling earlier detection and prevention. The project includes methodological advances, a national summit, and a white paper to guide future research and funding applications.
Project Duration: October 2025 – September 2027 Amount: $50,000
Team Leads: Christina Ziebart (Physical Therapy) & Jay Stock (Anthropology)
Team Members: Andrea Cowan (Nephrology), Andrea Waters (Anthropology), Andrew Nelson (Anthropology), Cheryle Seguin (Physiology & Pharmacology), David Holdsworth (Medical Biophysics), David Howe (Kinesiology), David Walton (Physical Therapy), Derek Pamukoff (Kinesiology), Emily Lalone (Engineering), Funmbi Babalola (Paediatrics), Geoffrey Ng (Medical Biophysics), Glorieuse Uwizeye (Nursing), Irene Yang (Engineering), Jamie Fleet (Physiatry), Jenny Thain (Geriatrics), Joy MacDermid (Physical Therapy), Kristin Clemens (Medicine), Louis Ferreira (Engineering), Matthew Grol (Physiology & Pharmacology), Matthew Teeter (Medical Biophysics), Michelle Mottola (Kinesiology), Patrick Thornley (Surgery), Tom Appleton (Rheumatology), Trevor Birmingham (Physical Therapy), Nikolas Knowles (University of Waterloo, Kinesiology), Suzanne Cadarette (Pharmacology, University of Toronto), Mal Evans (Patient Partner), Shereen Goodhew (Patient Partner)
Completed Milestones
- Applied for NFRF-E $250,000 (Fall 2025 Competition, pending)
- Applied for CIHR Planning and Dissemination Grant (Fall 2025 Competition, pending)
Future Milestones
- In Vivo 3D trabecular mapping study
- Acquire ethics and imaging protocols
- Conduct study
- Analyze data and assess feasibility for wider adoption
- Hold national summit of bone health researchers
- In collaboration with OsNET
- Identify core outcomes, methods, and elements for integrated database
- Establish national bone health database
- Advertise database with white paper
