OsNET: The Canadian Bone Health Research Network

Bone is a critical part of our musculoskeletal system and optimizing its health across the lifespan is key to ensuring a high quality of life for Canadians. Skeletal health is integral to primary bone diseases arising from childhood-onset bone disorders including osteogenesis imperfecta and osteoporosis secondary to chronic illnesses, where low bone mineral mass can lead to devastating fragility fractures. Skeletal health can also become impaired in diseases such as celiac disease, Parkinson's, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal cord injury, cancer, and more. Fractures from osteoporosis are more common than heart attack, stroke and breast cancer combined. Although Canada has a surprisingly large number of renowned world experts in bone health research for its size, there is no formal network to connect them. We are proposing to establish OsNET (Os = bone, NET = network), which will be Canada's largest, most comprehensive structured network for scientists, clinicians, patient partners, bone organizations, and industry to communicate and work together. The aim of OsNET is to improve life-long bone health through actionable research for Canadians. The four main objectives of OsNET are to (1) establish an inclusive, diverse, and multidisciplinary network of experts, knowledge users, and patient partners; (2) generate new knowledge across the four CIHR pillars that benefit Canadians from infancy to old age; (3) provide a foundation for sharing and create resources, platforms, and establish transdisciplinary teams working to improve best practises; and (4) create a mentorship environment for trainees to support career development and establish the next generation of bone health researchers in Canada. OsNET is designed to be a lasting organization poised to improve bone health through prevention, early diagnosis, and innovative therapeutics. It will promote advocacy and leadership in bone research locally, nationally, and internationally, spanning generations.