TreatOA News
All presentations and booklet from the OMICS Symposium on 12th April 2012 are available here
TreatOA
TreatOA is a large-scale collaborative, integrated, trans-disciplinary project to address the need for better treatment and diagnostics for osteoarthritis, the most common cause of disability in Europe. The gene driven approach aims to provide new therapeutic targets as well as tools to select patients which will be most likely to respond to those therapies effectively. It will also deliver a comprehensive technology platform with a focus on gaining new insights into the development and progression of human OA. The goal is to identify diagnostic and prognostic genetic markers for disease risk and progression and potential therapeutic targets. Learn more About TreatOA
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis or OA results from a combination of genetic abnormalities and joint injuries. In this disorder, the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones deteriorates, causing pain and loss of muscle function. While age is a major risk factor for developing osteoarthritis, the disease is not just an inevitable consequence of aging. Other risk factors include major joint trauma, repetitive stress, and obesity. Symptoms of OA can range from painful to completely disabling, and current treatment regimens are palliative rather than curative. There is no current cure for osteoarthritis. Various treatment options can help alleviate the symptoms. Pain-killers and anti-inflammatory agents are the mainstay of drug therapy. However, therapy and lifestyle changes can also reduce the symptoms of the disease. Surgery, including joint replacement, is used when all else has failed.
Learn more About Osteoarthritis