Nordic Research Schools in Musculoskeletal System and Physical Activity is a Nordic-Baltic network in order to enhance quality of the Ph.D. education and to encourage international exchange.
The national research schools is the present network are Academy of Muscle Biology, Exercise & Health Research (AMBEHR) from University of Copenhagen, Denmark (director: Professor Michael Kjaer), and National Graduate School of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Biomaterials (TBGS), director: Professor Hannu Aro, University of Turku, Finland). Participants represent university research networks, hospitals and institutes in medicine, sport and health sciences in Denmark, Estland, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Research includes elements from gerontology, physiology and exercise physiology, rehabilitation, biomechanics, human experimental research, molecular biology, cellular biology, genetics and clinical as well as public health aspects.
The combining subject of the participants and their research is the effects of physical activity on musculoskeletal system and prevention of chronic musculoskeletal diseases. The research network consists of three different levels: molecular and cellular level, mechanical properties of musculoskeletal tissues in vivo and in vitro and functional aspects of the locomotory system.
The combined effort of participants is to create a research network, linking a molecular approach from genome to proteome, with mechanical properties of tissues (such as bone, cartilage, skeletal muscle and tendon) both in vitro and in vivo in musculoskeletal system, which is effected by different physical loading conditions for example exercise, immobilization and injury.
The aim of the activity is to form networking between the three national research schools, which share the same area of research and research training, and furthermore open up courses to research students and to promote mobility of research students in countries which are supported by NordForsk. We also encourage establishment of national research schools in musculoskeletal area in Norway and in Sweden.This would significantly strengthen research cooperation in all Nordic countries.
