Basic research on molecular genetic background of bone mineral density and osteoporosis started in 1998. Initiative came from the Clinic for Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases of the University Clinical Centre in Ljubljana.
Supporting research projects:
- Interinstitutional national research program P1-0104 Functional Genomics and Biotechnology for Health (R. Komel); 1999-2004 and 2004-2008.
- Z1-3238 Genetic and environmental risk factors in the development of bone remodeling disorder; national basic research project, S. Kreft, 1/7/2001―30/6/2004.
Clinical partner:
- Clinic for Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases in Ljubljana (Prof. Andreja Kocijančič, M.D.; Prof. Janez Preželj, M.D.).
Later collaborative research partner:
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana (Assit. Prof. Janja Marc).
Research translation:
After completed education all involved students were supported in 2000-02 to start independent molecular biology laboratory at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Ljubljana where research on osteoporosis continued under supervision of Dr. Janja Marc and in collaboration with the Clinic for Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases UKC .
Researchers involved:
| Researcher | Position |
| Radovan Komel | Head of Department / Project supervisor |
| Sanja Jurada | M.Sc. student |
| Janja Marc | PhD student
Later: Project leader |
| Arko (Ostanek) Barbara | M. Sc. student |
Education:
| Student | Thesis | Title | Year | Supervisors |
| Arko Barbara | MSc | Molecular analysis of exons of estrogen receptor beta gene in patients with osteoporosis. | 2000 | Radovan Komel Janja Marc |
| Janja Marc | PhD | The role of VDR gene polymorphism in the development and therapy of osteoporosis. | 1999 | Radovan Komel Janez Preželj |
| Sanja Jurada | MSc | Molecular analysis of exons of the estrogens receptor gene in patients with osteoporosis. | 1998 | Radovan Komel Jožko Osredkar |
Selected publications:
- Arko B. et al. (2005): Association of the osteoprotegerin gene polymorphisms with bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. Maturitas 51(3): 270-279.
- Arko B. et al. (2002): No major effect of estrogen receptor beta gene RsaI polymorphism on bone mineral density and response to alendronate therapy in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 81 (2): 147-152.
- Arko B. et al. (2002): Sequence variations in the osteoprotegerin gene promoter in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Clin. Endocrinol. & Metabol. 87(9): 4080-4084.
- Marc J. et al. (2000): Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism with bone mineral density in Slovenian postmenopausal women. Gynecological Endocrinology 14(1): 60-64.
- Jurada S. et al. (2001): Codon 325 sequence polymorphism of estrogen receptor gene and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 78(1): 15-20.
- Marc J. et al. (1999): VDR genotype and response to etidronate therapy in late postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis International 10(4 – suppl.): 303-306.