# Center for Musculoskeletal Disease Research (CMDR)

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS · 2020 · $2,268,208

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Conditions such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, developmental abnormalities of the skeleton, as well as
malignancies, such as multiple myeloma and breast cancer metastases, all negatively affect the musculoskeletal
system. These conditions affect the health of a sizable percentage of the US population and lead to significant
disability and substantial health care costs, and there is an ongoing need to better understand their causes and
to support the development of more effective and well-tolerated therapies. To address this need, we propose to
establish and develop a thematic and multidisciplinary Center for Musculoskeletal Disease Research (CMDR)
at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The scientific theme of the CMDR is that molecular
and genetic analysis of musculoskeletal diseases, and conditions that involve the skeleton as part of their disease
process, will lead to a better understanding of their causes and will support development of novel therapies. Our
approach to studying these conditions will take advantage of state-of-the-art approaches to analyze the genome
and transcriptome, the genetic manipulation of cells and animals, and skeletal phenotyping. A key to the success
of this approach will be to increase the number of investigators whose research is aligned with the scientific
theme of the Center via development of junior investigators and recruitment of new and established investigators.
We will establish the CMDR on a strong foundation of musculoskeletal research and implement an Organization
and Management Plan to create a self-sustaining Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (Aim 1). We will
also provide multidisciplinary development and unique research opportunities to young investigators and support
them to the point of independence (Aim 2). Lastly, we will create diverse teams of productive investigators by
providing access to effective and useful research cores that produce significant and long-lasting benefits to the
research infrastructure of UAMS and its affiliated institutions (Aim 3). The Overall Center Organization and
Management Plan includes the Administrative Core, three research cores, and four research projects, led by
promising junior investigators. The Administrative Core will oversee establishment and operation of the center,
the three research cores, and a faculty development plan. The integrated and interactive faculty development
plan will include a formal mentoring program that will guide four junior investigators to independence. The CMDR
research cores include a Genetic Models Core that will use cutting-edge approaches to genetically manipulate
cells and mice, a Bone Histology and Imaging Core that will analyze mouse and human hard tissues, and a
Bioinformatics Core that will analyze the large datasets generated by the molecular analyses of cells from mouse
and human samples. Successful implementation of this Organization and Management Plan will in the lo...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9872180
- **Project number:** 5P20GM125503-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS
- **Principal Investigator:** CHARLES A O'BRIEN
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $2,268,208
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-02-16 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9872180

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9872180, Center for Musculoskeletal Disease Research (CMDR) (5P20GM125503-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9872180. Licensed CC0.

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