Work Package 6

WP 6: Functional Genomics: in vivo studies and animal models of OA

Participants:

KU Leuven, Hubrecht Institute

Objectives:

1. To develop zebrafish and chick gain of function and loss of function models for OA related genes and pathways identified by human genetic approaches.
2. To identify zebrafish orthologues of the human genes associated with OA In order to identify signalling pathways associated with the newly discovered genes (WP1-4).
3. To investigate, in vivo, the function of those genes in skeletal development and synovial joint formation by developing a chick model. Following the initial preselection of target genes in the zebrafish, a subset of those genes will be evaluated using developing chick limb in ovo.