Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder, affecting primarily the knees, hips, hands, and spine.  Joint damage in OA includes cartilage erosion, subchondral bone sclerosis, bone remodeling with osteophyte formation, and episodes of synovitis.  Diagnosis is based on radiographical changes – primarily joint space narrowing, subchondral bone sclerosis and osteophytes – accompanied by clinical symptoms, most prominently pain.

At the Laboratory for Translational Research in Osteoarthritis, established in 2009 by Dr. Anne-Marie Malfait at Rush University Medical Center, PIs Dr. Anne-Marie Malfait and Dr. Rachel Miller lead studies in the following areas of interest:

• Pain pathways in osteoarthritis
  
• Development of DMOADs (disease-modifying drugs for osteoarthritis), with focus on intra-articular treatment modalities
• Role of biomechanics in osteoarthritis pain