IOF, Fonterra establish bone health research grant

MANILA, Philippines - The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and Fonterra recently announced the establishment of a new bone health insights research grant.

IOF chief executive officer Judy Stenmark said this grant will provide support for an observational, epidemiological study, seeking to evaluate nutrition, exercise or other lifestyle factors that may impact on population bone health.

She added that the grant is also open to applicants working to understand more about the state of bone health in Asia. 

“By supporting this grant, we hope to understand more about the risk factors impacting bone health in Asia as well as the state of bone health across the region,” she said.

Fonterra innovation manager Joanne Todd said Fonterra is committed to raising awareness about bone health and the simple lifestyle and diet changes people can make to help prevent the onset of crippling bone diseases such as osteoporosis.

“Asia is characterized by fast-growing, increasingly urban and aging populations who are living more sedentary lifestyles. Supporting this grant, alongside our regional bone health partner IOF, will enable us to understand more about how the region’s diet and lifestyle trends are impacting bone health in Asia. The insights generated will also help us educate people across the region about the simple steps they need to take to look after their bones,” said Todd.

The grant, valued at $44,000, is open to applicants from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Stenmark said osteoporosis is a major health problem across Asia. “The incidence of hip fracture has already risen two- to three-fold in most Asian countries during the past 30 years and we expect that by 2050 more than 50 percent of all osteoporotic fractures will occur in Asia. This has serious implications for the region, now and in the future,” she said.

“It is clear that we need to develop a deeper understanding of the state of bone health in Asia as well as the lifestyle and nutrition factors putting people at risk of poor bone health to help prevent the onset of this crippling disease. We are pleased to be able to enable further research, alongside Fonterra, through the establishment of this new bone health research grant,” she added.

Applications for the IOF-Fonterra Bone Health Insights Research Grant close on May 1, with the successful applicant’s study due to begin on Aug. 1.

For more information on how to apply for this grant, visit www.iofbonehealth.org/iof-fonterra-research-grant.