The Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health focuses on the development of new treatments, cures, tools, and technologies to address musculoskeletal diseases and disorders.

Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health 

Comprehensive, world-class musculoskeletal research and education

The Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health (ICMH) was established at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2017 to address the serious need to prevent and treat musculoskeletal disease. The center’s mission is to discover and develop new treatments, cures, preventative strategies, diagnostic tools and technologies to address the increasing burden of bone, muscle and cartilage disorders.

Diseases and disorders of the musculoskeletal system, bones, muscle and joints result in significant health costs in terms of pain and suffering, loss of work and productivity, and accelerated death. Musculoskeletal diseases represent a huge financial burden to the United States health care system and are the leading cause of disability. In 2011, the cost of musculoskeletal diseases was estimated at $796.3 billion, or 5.7 percent of the US National Gross Domestic Product. A tremendous need exists for new approaches for treating musculoskeletal diseases.

The center includes outstanding, internationally known researchers in the areas of basic, translational and clinical musculoskeletal research at Indiana University, Purdue University, and other academic institutions throughout the United States. These scientists are making important discoveries in the laboratory to be used to treat patients with metabolic and genetic musculoskeletal diseases, bone and muscle cancer, and trauma and tissue regeneration and to determine how to harness the benefits of exercise.

The Center for Musculoskeletal Health works to foster relationships with others in the field by hosting renowned speakers, providing leadership and collaboration within the research teams, and by developing technology and services in the basic and clinical cores.

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Philanthropic support of the ICMH is vital in our effort to conduct groundbreaking research and make a meaningful impact on patient lives. Online giving is simple and secure. Learn more about philanthropic options to advance musculoskeletal research today.

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100+ Investigators
70+ Million Dollars of External Funding
5 Thematic Research Teams
7 Committees and Working Groups

Research

Musculoskeletal Center researchers are building on IU School of Medicine’s well-deserved reputation as one of the world’s most knowledgeable group of physician scientists focused on bone biology and musculoskeletal disorders. Researchers and clinicians working with the Indiana Center for the Musculoskeletal Health span four universities and continue to focus on international collaboration. Membership in the Indiana Center for the Musculoskeletal Health is growing. 

Education

The Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health is invested in the training and education of the next generation of researchers in musculoskeletal health. Utilizing an extensive network of experts in the fields of bone, muscle, and bone and muscle interactions, the center supports a musculoskeletal health PhD program and post-doctoral training. 

two students at work in the clinic at Eskenazi hospital

Clinical Care

Research service cores are available to support Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health investigators and collaborative medical research partners working in this area of medicine. Support for research involving animal imaging and analysis, musculoskeletal histology, musculoskeletal biobanking, and clinical care and mobility is currently available. Researchers in the center received funding of a clinical grant that focuses on developing and sustaining the Indiana Core Center for Clinical Research (in Musculoskeletal Disorders).