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Research The Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases is a molecular medicine research unit situated in the Department of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine and physically located in the Barnes-Jewish Hospital North. It is dedicated to the study of pathobiology of orthotopic and heterotopic mineralized tissue metabolism. Its researchers have successfully applied their genetic, biochemical, molecular biology, and pharmacological approaches to the understanding of basic and clinical investigation of such areas as vascular calcification, cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions in skeletal development, familial chondrodysplasias and other hereditary bone disorders, and the effects of estrogen replacement on bone loss. Research Core Laboratories The BMD investigators are housed in modern laboratory facilities with state-of-the-art equipment and well-trained research staff. The division maintains an Imaging and Gene Expression Core Laboratory (IGEC) and a Histology/Histomorphometry Core. These cores are available for use by staff members in addition to providing fee-for-service capabilities. The IGEC houses a Scanco MicroCT scanner, an Amersham Typhoon phospho imager, and an Applied Biosystems Taqman real-time PCR. Clinical Research Unit 
The Clinical Research unit, initiated by Dr. Avioli and currently directed by Dr. Roberto Civitelli, participates in clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of novel osteoporosis pharmacotherapies. Located in the Center for Clinical Studies on the 11th floor of the CAM building, the unit performs Phase II through Phase IV clinical trials and assists in investigator-initiated federally-sponsored patient research. The unit has been in operation for over twenty years and runs an average of 10-15 active trials simultaneously. Its current outpatient-based clinical trial activities for several large pharmaceutical companies are maintained by Dr. Civitelli and a group of experienced nursing, technical, and administrative personnel.
Division of Bone & Mineral Diseases
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