Disrupted Mechanical Signalling at the Golgi apparatus as a Driver of Osteoarthritis Progression

Project Code

MRCPHS26Br Stevenson

Project Type

Wet lab

Research Theme

Population Health Science

Project Summary Download

Summary

Nearly 8% of the global population is living with osteoarthritis. The mechanisms of disease are poorly understood, however a major risk factor is altered mechanical loading of joints. This PhD project will investigate how the Golgi apparatus, a secretory pathway organelle, responds to mechanical signals and whether dysregulated extracellular matrix secretion contributes to osteoarthritis cartilage pathology. Analysis of GWAS studies will be used to identify osteoarthritis-linked Golgi proteins involved in disease progression, that will then be studied experimentally in 3D human cell culture and mouse tissue models of osteoarthritis. This is an exciting opportunity to uncover a novel cellular mechanism in joint disease.

Lead Supervisor

Dr Nicola Stevenson

Lead Supervisor Email

nicola.stevenson@bristol.ac.uk

University Affiliation

Bristol