University of Alberta

Published purpose

There is little attention on the potential impact of spaceflight associated low gravity (microgravity) on joint health. Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease, and it primarily affects the mechanical loading bearing structures of the joint. Its negative effect on patients' quality of life is enormous. Over 10% of the Canadian population suffer from osteoarthritis, and the most common joint affected is the knee. Knee osteoarthritis is prevalent in females. The reason for the high incidence of knee osteoarthritis in females is not fully understood. This project will explore the use of simulated microgravity to understand the basis of the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis in females. The findings of this project have the potential to discover novel drug targets for treating knee osteoarthritis to alleviate the burden of the disease in Canada and globally. Additionally, the project can potentially advance the use of simulated microgravity to study other joint disorders.