Scientific Rationale: Orthopedic diseases and sports injuries (e.g., osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, ligament/tendon injuries) are major causes of global disability. Their etiology is a complex interplay of genetics, lifestyle, and biomechanical exposures from sports. While injury mechanisms are known, the underlying molecular pathways determining susceptibility and recovery are not. The UK Biobank, with its rich longitudinal, imaging, and multi-omics data (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics), provides an unparalleled resource to connect population-level epidemiology with molecular mechanisms.
Research Questions & Objectives:
Elucidate Etiological Factors: We aim to quantify the causal impact of systemic and lifestyle factors-especially sports type, intensity, and duration-on the risk and progression of major orthopedic diseases and specific sports injuries. We will also investigate gene-environment interactions.
Identify Multi-Omics Mechanisms: A primary objective is to integrate genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data to uncover the molecular landscape of these conditions. We will identify causal genes, key signaling pathways (inflammatory, metabolic, regenerative), and circulating biomarkers. Transcriptomic data is crucial for understanding dynamic gene expression.
Develop Translational Strategies: We will leverage our findings to build comprehensive risk prediction models integrating genetic, lifestyle, and biomarker data. The ultimate goal is to identify high-risk individuals and develop evidence-based, personalized strategies for prevention (e.g., tailored exercise prescriptions) and treatment, reducing the public health burden of these conditions