Bone Imaging Core

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT - CORE D The COBRE Center for Musculoskeletal Disease Research (CMDR) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) focuses on identifying the cellular and molecular causes underlying diseases and conditions that negatively impact the musculoskeletal system. Bone imaging and analytical technologies at the tissue and cellular level will be required to accomplish the goals of each Phase 2 research project. To fulfill this need, we will split the former Bone Histology and Imaging Core, established during Phase 1, into 2 independent but highly integrated new cores: the Bone Imaging Core (Core D) and the Histology, Biomechanics, and Human Tissue Core (Core C). Core D will operate as a centralized and shared core facility to assist Project Leaders and other CMDR members with the musculoskeletal imaging needed for their research efforts. The core will provide state- of-the-art imaging resources for quantitative characterization of tissue and cellular changes underlying the pathogenesis of the musculoskeletal disorders being studied. Thus, Core D will be critical for Project Leaders and the long-term success of the CMDR. This new core will consolidate existing and new equipment into a large, modern research space within the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology and will be staffed by well-trained technical personnel who will be supervised by the Core Director. Core D will pursue the following specific aims: 1) Establish the Bone Imaging Core; 2) Deliver state-of-the-art musculoskeletal imaging and introduce new analytical technologies to generate, analyze, and interpret bone-imaging data; and 3) Provide training in bone imaging and support educational activities. The success of Core D, together with the other CMDR cores, will benefit the work proposed in all research projects (Projects 1, 2, and 3) and expand the repertoire of analytical tools to meet the growing needs of CMDR members, as well as the other investigators at UAMS.