Osteoporosis is a complex hereditary bone disorder characterised by reduced bone mass and strength leading to a high fracture risk. Studying genetic disorders with a strong hereditary component is of great importance in understanding the progression of disease that may in turn identify novel therapeutic targets based on a person鈥檚 genetic make-up. To date, around 20% of the underlying genetic factors are known, prompting the need for more genetic studies in the field of osteoporosis.
A team of researchers from the University of Malta will be investigating the genetic determinants contributing to low and high bone mass as part of the GRIT (The Genetics of Osteoporosis in Malta) project. This project has received financial support through the FUSION 2022 awarded by the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST).
The GRIT project, led by Dr Melissa Marie Formosa from the Department of Applied Biomedical Science at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking (CMMB), together with Prof. Josanne Vassallo and research support officers Ms Marichela Schembri and Mr Donald Friggieri, will be using innovative -omics techniques with the aim of identifying genes and gene variants implicated in bone pathophysiology. Samples from the Malta Osteoporotic Fracture Study (MOFS) will be utilised in this project.
This project is a cornerstone for further research to elucidate the functionality of any relevant variants identified using in vitro and animal models. Findings may lead to the development of diagnostic biomarkers that can be used to identify susceptible individuals who would largely benefit from early implementation of preventive measures. This makes personalised medicine more of a reality, which is the aim of genomic studies.
For further information about the GRIT project, kindly contact Dr Melissa Formosa.
GRIT Project was financed by the Malta Council for Science and Technology, for and on behalf of the Foundation for Science and Technology, through the FUSION R&I Technology Development Programme LITE.
