1.  What is your organization’s interest in the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance (OAAA)?

The UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center (TARC) assumed management of the Alliance in May 2014, after having played a central role in the coalition since its inception. With a long tradition of health education, a focus on improving public health, and an extensive track record of pioneering new ways to better understand and treat arthritis, TARC was well suited to address the needs of the Alliance. In the past two years, the Alliance has grown from roughly 30 to over 90 members, has launched a newly designed website with numerous resources for professionals and patients, and initiated a national small grant program to support community-based organizations in their efforts to increase access to physical activity for adults with arthritis.

2.  What do you think is the most important issue today related to aging and osteoarthritis?

There are many critical issues, but one that we are particularly passionate about is helping to change the way people think about osteoarthritis.  This means sharing vital information on an ongoing basis – both with health professionals and the public – related to the causes as well as the most effective treatments for osteoarthritis.  Too often this disease is viewed as an inevitable part of the aging process, and one for which little or nothing can be done.  But research is teaching us more about the role that many contributing factors play, ranging from genetics to inflammation, to sports injuries.  In fact, we are beginning to explore other possible factors such as the role of diet and the gut microbiome in development and progression of the disease. Just as importantly, we are gaining important new insights into how psychological factors related to the pain and disability that can be associated with osteoarthritis, as well as social support from a significant other, play key roles in how well patients manage their disease and stay active.  These are just a few examples, as there are many other vital insights we are uncovering as we study this disease. Our goal is to find new ways to modify the disease, not just treat the symptoms, and ultimately to prevent the development of osteoarthritis and its progression.

3. How does your organization’s work connect to issues in osteoarthritis?

We have three core missions: 1) continually pioneering research focused on developing new treatments, 2) providing cutting edge, compassionate care for the thousands of patients we see in our clinics each year, and 3) training tomorrow’s doctors and other healthcare providers. Our training role grows ever more urgent, as the shortage of rheumatologists is getting worse, and is happening at a time in which we are seeing tremendous growth in the numbers of our aging population.

4. What is a headline you’d like to see about osteoarthritis in five years?“Newly discovered treatments for reducing the development and progression of osteoarthritis have now become widely available to all patients.”

5. What is one interesting fact you’d like people to know about your organization?

We have one of the most comprehensive osteoarthritis research and treatment centers in the country, encompassing basic lab-based research, genetics and genomics, epidemiological risk factors, advanced clinical trials, and a passion for providing outstanding clinical care and guidelines-based interventions for patients.  It is also worth noting one of our landmark studies here at UNC. The Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project is a large, internationally recognized population-based study that has been going strong for over 25 years and continues to expand. It has been the source of over 60 supplementary and ancillary studies.