Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Center in Rheumatology

描述(由申请人提供)： 西北大学风湿病学多学科临床研究中心(MCRC)的目标是：1)开展旨在预防或控制关节炎和肌肉骨骼疾病的前沿、国家认可和资助的研究；2)提供学术环境，支持和加强MCRC教职员工的跨学科研究。 目前的项目侧重于与关节炎和肌肉骨骼疾病的重要后果有关的关键问题，例如疾病的进展(膝盖骨关节炎)、骨质疏松症和心血管疾病并发症的发展(狼疮)、功能结果。该中心还侧重于医疗保健的利用，特别强调服务不足的少数族裔。方法/数据管理核心和行政核心支持所有项目。 MCRC提案的具体目标是：1)为中心的方法学/数据管理核心(MDMC)获得资金，三个临床研究项目：髋部肌肉在膝关节骨关节炎进展中的潜在有益作用(项目1)；可解决的：狼疮血管和骨骼长期终点的研究(项目2)；风湿病的体力活动、残疾和保健效用(项目3)；以及一个发展/可行性项目：转化生长因子-β基因变异在硬皮病发病机制中的作用(项目4)；2)利用MCRC的这笔资金，加强西北大学风湿病临床研究的基础设施；3)参与国家努力，提高学术界和广大社区对关节炎和肌肉骨骼疾病的公共卫生负担以及解决这些问题的可能的医疗和公共卫生解决方案的认识。 目前西北大学(NU)的MCRC作为一个综合单位运作，以解决广泛的临床研究努力。MCRC继续联合医学院的成人和儿科风湿病分部、医学系的其他分部、预防医学系以及大学的保健研究所和临床研究和培训办公室。此外，它还促进了美国各地中心之间的互动，最著名的是芝加哥伊利诺伊大学和匹兹堡大学。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goals of the Northwestern University Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Center in Rheumatology (MCRC) are: 1) to conduct cutting-edge, nationally recognized and funded research aimed at the prevention or control of arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases and 2) to provide the academic environment that supports and enhances the interdisciplinary research of the MCRC faculty. The current projects focus on crucial issues relating to important consequences of arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases such as progression of disease (in Knee OA), and the development of the complications of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease (in lupus), functional outcomes. The center also focuses on health care utilization, with particular emphasis on underserved minorities. The Methodology/Data Management Core and the Administrative Core support all projects. The specific objectives of this MCRC proposal are 1) to secure funding for the Center's Methodology/Data Management Core (MDMC), three clinical research projects: Potential Beneficial Role of Hip Muscles in Knee OA Progression (Project 1); SOLVABLE: Study of Lupus Vascular and Bone Longterm Endpoints (Project 2); Physical Activity, Disability, and Health Utility in Rheumatic Disease (Project 3); and one developmental/feasibility project: Role of TGF-p genetic Varients in the Pathogenesis of Scleroderma (Project 4); 2) to leverage this MCRC funding to enhance the infrastructure for Rheumatology clinical research at Northwestern University, and 3) to participate in the national effort to enhance the awareness within the academic community and the community at large of the public health burden of arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases and the possible medical and public health solutions to these problems. The current MCRC at Northwestern University (NU) operates as an integrated unit to address a broad range of clinical research endeavors. The MCRC continues to unite the Medical School's Adult and Pediatric Rheumatology Divisions, other divisions in its Department of Medicine, its Department of Preventive Medicine, and the University's Institute for Healthcare Studies and the Office for Clinical Research and Training. Moreover, it fosters interactions among centers throughout the United States most notably the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Pittsburgh.