May 12, 2011
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The British Society for Rheumatology recognizes
IOF’s Chair of Scientific Advisors for his outstanding achievements
in osteoporosis research
Professor Cyrus Cooper has been awarded the Heberden Medal of
the British Society for Rheumatology. Cyrus Cooper is Professor of
Rheumatology and Director of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit,
University of Southampton. He has led the Musculoskeletal Research
Programme at the University of Southampton for 19 years, and has
directed the MRC Unit since 2003.
His research programme has focused on the epidemiology,
pathophysiology and prevention of osteoporosis. Discoveries
include: (a) documentation of the developmental influences which
contribute to the risk of osteoporosis and hip fracture in late
adulthood; (b) demonstration that maternal vitamin D insufficiency
is associated with sub-optimal bone mineral accrual in childhood;
(c) characterisation of the definition and incidence rates of hip,
spine and distal forearm fractures; and (d) leadership of large
pragmatic randomised controlled trials of calcium and vitamin D
supplementation in the elderly, to evaluate these as immediate
preventive strategies against hip fracture. In addition to his role
as Chair of the IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors, Professor
Cooper is Chair of the MRC Population Health Sciences Research
Network; Associate Director of Clinical Research at the University
of Southampton Medical School; and Associate Editor of Osteoporosis
International. He has published extensively (over 450 research
papers) on osteoporosis and rheumatic disorders, as well as
pioneering clinical studies on the developmental origins of peak
bone mass.
Professor Cooper summarised these discoveries in his oration to the
British Society for Rheumatology entitled: ‘Prevention of
osteoporotic fracture: before the cradle and beyond the
grave’.
