RUSH Department of Biochemistry
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Welcome to the RUSH Department of Biochemistry
Commitment to Research
Our faculty is a select group of scientists whose research focuses on understanding the biochemistry of cartilage, age-related changes in the cartilage, and osteoarthritis, the predominant disorder of cartilage. It is estimated that over 30,000,000 Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, but there is no cure for this disease. Existing treatments merely alleviate the discomfort associated with osteoarthritis. Our ultimate aim is to learn how to protect the joint from degeneration and to induce damaged cartilage to repair itself.
Our research focuses on these areas of study:
  • Understanding the basic biology of the human joint. Before we can treat disorders of degenerative cartilage, we first need to define the properties of a normal, healthy joint.
  • Understanding osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a slowly progressive, degenerative condition that affects the cartilage of movable joints, and is characterized by joint pain, tenderness, and increasing limitation of movement.
  • Identifying normal changes in the joint that associated with aging. Although osteoarthritis is the predominant disease of aging cartilage, there are other age-related disorders that affect the joint.
  • Through our collaborations with industry, our researchers currently aid in the development and testing of proposed treatments to repair disorders of the joint.

Commitment to Education
The Department of Biochemistry is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists. Our current research is integrated with the education of graduate students and the training of new investigators. Our department has recently been awarded a highly competitive grant for .Training in Cartilage Research.. This is the only such nationwide training grant awarded by the National Institute of Health to educate young researchers in cartilage biology since 1996.

Recognized Environment of Excellence
The excellence of this department.s research has garnered worldwide recognition:
  • We have received one of only three national Specialized Centers of Research grants in osteoarthritis arthritis awarded in 1987 by the National Institute of Health. That grant has been continuously renewed up to the present time.
  • Our department has long-lasting relationship with the Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network foundation, which provides our researchers with human joint tissues from organ donors. This collaboration makes us one of very few research institutes with the opportunity to study human cartilage biochemistry.
Latest RUSH Biochem News
Date Summary
28.02.2007 New Biochemistry Website Coming Soon!!!
Upcoming Colloquia
Date Title Speaker
No upcoming colloquia