Elizabeth J. Samelson, PhD, is a well-trained musculoskeletal epidemiologist planning to develop new skills and expertise to investigate potential shared mechanisms underlying the relation between osteoporosis and vascular calcification. Specifically, the immediate career goal of the proposed training and research program is for the candidate to develop new skills and knowledge in two areas: (1) the biology of bone and vascular calcification and (2) the use of quantitative compute tomography (QCT) bone densitometry techniques to investigate the relation between bone and vascular calcification. The long-term career goal is for the candidate to become an independent investigator in the area of musculoskeletal disease and an expert in bone and vascular calcification, a new and poorly understood area, with the ultimate public health goal to help reduce the risk of osteoporosis (and possibly, in conjunction, atherosclerosis) and its devastating impact on elderly women and men. The research career development plan involves frequent, formal interactions with mentors who are independently funded, senior investigators with comprehensive and complementary areas of expertise and programs in osteoporosis epidemiology, vascular calcification, and bone imaging. Training will include participation in intensive, comprehensive courses and interdisciplinary research seminars conducted in the outstanding research environment in Boston, including the Institute for Aging Research (IFAR) at Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL), Harvard Medical School (HMS) and its affiliated institutions (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital), as well as the Framingham Study. The purpose of this study is to use QCT images performed in 3500 participants of the Framingham QCT Study (a large, community-based study of 1800 men and 1700 women, ages 40 through 90 years, mean 61 years) to determine volumetric, trabecular bone mineral density (vTBMD) of the spine and assess the relation between vTBMD level and severity of vascular calcification (assessed on the same scans). The study will use reliable, validated techniques to analyze the QCT images and combine these data with clinical information rigorously acquired for Framingham participants. Finally, the study will test the hypothesis that vTBMD will be positively related to serum level of osteoprotegerin (OPG), and inversely related to receptor activator of nuclear factor K-beta ligand (RANKL), and that OPG will explain a statistically significant proportion of the inverse correlation between vTBMD and vascular calcification in women and men. The relevance of the proposed study is that the results will improve understanding of the possible causes of osteoporosis also involved with the development of cardiovascular disease. Thus, the results of this study could lead to future therapies to treat and or event both osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01AR053118-04
Application #
7846230
Study Section
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Special Grants Review Committee (AMS)
Program Officer
Chen, Faye H
Project Start
2007-06-01
Project End
2012-05-31
Budget Start
2010-06-01
Budget End
2011-05-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$95,192
Indirect Cost
Name
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged
Department
Type
DUNS #
030832075
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02131
Chan, Jimmy J; Cupples, L Adrienne; Kiel, Douglas P et al. (2015) QCT Volumetric Bone Mineral Density and Vascular and Valvular Calcification: The Framingham Study. J Bone Miner Res 30:1767-74
Samelson, Elizabeth J; Miller, Paul D; Christiansen, Claus et al. (2014) RANKL inhibition with denosumab does not influence 3-year progression of aortic calcification or incidence of adverse cardiovascular events in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and high cardiovascular risk. J Bone Miner Res 29:450-7
Bruno, Alexander G; Broe, Kerry E; Zhang, Xiaochun et al. (2014) Vertebral size, bone density, and strength in men and women matched for age and areal spine BMD. J Bone Miner Res 29:562-9
Szulc, P; Samelson, E J; Sornay-Rendu, E et al. (2013) Severity of aortic calcification is positively associated with vertebral fracture in older men--a densitometry study in the STRAMBO cohort. Osteoporos Int 24:1177-84
Samelson, Elizabeth J; Christiansen, Blaine A; Demissie, Serkalem et al. (2012) QCT measures of bone strength at the thoracic and lumbar spine: the Framingham Study. J Bone Miner Res 27:654-63
Liu, Ching-Ti; Karasik, David; Zhou, Yanhua et al. (2012) Heritability of prevalent vertebral fracture and volumetric bone mineral density and geometry at the lumbar spine in three generations of the Framingham study. J Bone Miner Res 27:954-8
Samelson, Elizabeth J; Booth, Sarah L; Fox, Caroline S et al. (2012) Calcium intake is not associated with increased coronary artery calcification: the Framingham Study. Am J Clin Nutr 96:1274-80
Stewart, Carrie; Leveille, Suzanne G; Shmerling, Robert H et al. (2012) Management of persistent pain in older adults: the MOBILIZE Boston Study. J Am Geriatr Soc 60:2081-6
Kim, Y M; Demissie, S; Genant, H K et al. (2012) Identification of prevalent vertebral fractures using CT lateral scout views: a comparison of semi-automated quantitative vertebral morphometry and radiologist semi-quantitative grading. Osteoporos Int 23:1007-16
Kim, Y M; Demissie, S; Eisenberg, R et al. (2011) Intra-and inter-reader reliability of semi-automated quantitative morphometry measurements and vertebral fracture assessment using lateral scout views from computed tomography. Osteoporos Int 22:2677-88

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