Resource Cores for Musculoskeletal Biology Research

Musculoskeletal disease and disorders affect 1 out of 2 Americans and continue to be responsible for the majority of physician/hospital visits and medical costs. Addressing this serious health issue requires teams of investigators and clinical scientists with training and experience in studying the tissues and organs of the musculoskeletal system as well as their interactions with other body systems. The Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health, ICMH, was established in 2017 to address this need. The over 100 ICMH members, from 5 schools and 26 departments, have formed focused research teams to investigate specific musculoskeletal health issues such as post-traumatic osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and fracture healing, as well as the musculoskeletal impacts and contribution in systemic disease processes such as aging, diabetes, cancer cachexia, renal disease and others. To identify targetable cellular and molecular mechanisms involved or responsible for these conditions, investigators collaborate in areas as diverse as periodontal disease, muscle/bone crosstalk, osteosarcopenia, and osteocyte mechanobiology and function. The goal of the ICMH Resource Cores, ICMH-RC, is to promote and support advancements in the field of musculoskeletal research through understanding muscle/bone interactions, mechanobiology, and the roles of the musculoskeletal system beyond movement. To accomplish this goal, it is imperative individual investigators and research teams have access to core facilities that provide services and cutting-edge technology specific to bone/cartilage/connective tissue and muscle. The ICMH-RC will be composed of the Admin/Enhancement Core, Core A and three resource cores: Core B: Histology and Histomorphometry core, Core C: Systems Biology and Multi-Omics core, and Core D: Mechanobiology/3D Bioprinting Core. The Admin Core will not only be responsible for efficient and productive operations of these cores but also for the selection of promising pilot applications proposing novel yet feasible concepts in the study and treatment of musculoskeletal disease. Core A will also place high priority on the training not only of faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students, but also will introduce high school students and faculty to the field of musculoskeletal research to ensure that the next generation of critical musculoskeletal scientists, engineers, and physicians will comprise an eager, well-trained workforce. New cutting-edge technologies such as 3D tissue and organ bioprinting will be further developed. The ICMH-RC will interface with the clinical cores of the ICMH Clinical Research Center, ICMH CRC, to promote transfer of discovery to clinical application, using the “bench-to-bedside” translational approach to achieve the ultimate goals of musculoskeletal research.*