Bone metabolism under conditions of reduced weight (eg spaceflight) and in the absence of sex hormones, with special emphasis on the effects of combinations of sex hormones (or alternatives) on bone.

Research

The effects of hormones and their alternatives on preventing osteoporosis and osteopenia arising from reduced gonadal function and from reduced weight bearing.

Current projects include:

Refinement of histological techniques

Possible future projects and direction of research:

Refinement of histological techniques to improve and better evaluate hormonal treatments for osteoporosis

Diseases related to this field of research

Osteoporosis, osteopenia, osteomalacia

Processes and functions relevant to this work

Bone formation, bone resorption

Techniques in routine use

Stereology, histomorphometry

Equipment in routine use

Epifluorescent light microscopy

Grants and funding

Pharmaceutical industry funded (confidential)

Collaborations

Collaborations with colleagues in Switzerland (confidential), USA (confidential), Ireland (confidential) and UK (confidential).

Teaching

• Veterinary anatomy for vet students and vet nursing students
• Musculoskeletal metabolism for final year science students
• Musculoskeletal biology and fracture repair for medical students
• Endocrine regulation of calcium for second year science students
• Dental anatomy for first year dental students