Bloomington-based Indiana University has launched a statewide consortium to accelerate musculoskeletal research, treatment and manufacturing, as bone fractures and mobility loss surge among older adults.
The Indiana Musculoskeletal Health Partnership for the Advancement of Care & Treatment brings together more than 100 research, clinical and industry partners, including Eli Lilly, Zimmer Biomet, IU Health, Indianapolis-based OrthoIndy, West Lafayette, Ind.-based Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame (Ind.). The consortium aims to develop new therapies, expand workforce training and strengthen Indiana’s position in the orthopedic device market, according to a Jan. 26 news release.
IU researchers are also expanding access to musculoskeletal screening through MSKMobile, a mobile testing unit that will travel across Indiana to assess bone density and other risk factors.
The initiative builds on the university’s function, imaging and testing core in Indianapolis, which gathers de-identified health data from volunteers to support national research.
IU estimates 300,000 hip fractures occur annually in the U.S. and notes 20% to 30% of seniors with a hip fracture die within a year. Half of women and a quarter of men over 50 are expected to experience a fracture due to low bone density.
