Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Center in Rheumatology

西北大学流变学多学科临床研究中心（MCRC）的目标是：1）进行尖端的，国家认可和资助的研究，旨在预防或控制关节炎和肌肉骨骼疾病和2）提供学术环境，支持和增强MCRC教师的跨学科研究。 目前的项目重点关注与关节炎和肌肉骨骼疾病的重要后果相关的关键问题，如疾病进展（膝关节OA），骨质疏松症和心血管疾病（狼疮）并发症的发展，功能结局。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民族。方法/数据管理核心和行政核心支持所有项目。 本MCRC提案的具体目标是：1）为中心的方法/数据管理核心（MDMC）、三个临床研究项目获得资金：髋关节肌肉在膝关节OA进展中的潜在有益作用（项目1）; SOLVABLE：狼疮血管和骨长期终点研究（项目2）：风湿性疾病中的身体活动、残疾和健康效用（项目3）;和一个发展/可行性项目：TGF-β遗传变异在硬皮病发病机制中的作用（项目4）; 2）利用MCRC的资金来加强西北大学流变学临床研究的基础设施，和3）参与国家努力，提高学术界和整个社区对关节炎和肌肉骨骼疾病公共卫生负担的认识，这些问题的可能的医疗和公共卫生解决方案。 西北大学（NU）目前的MCRC作为一个综合单位运作，以解决广泛的临床研究工作。MCRC继续团结医学院的成人和儿科流变学部门，其医学系的其他部门，其预防医学系，以及大学的医疗保健研究所和临床研究和培训办公室。此外，它促进了美国各地中心之间的互动，最著名的是位于芝加哥的伊利诺伊大学和匹兹堡大学。

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.