Objective Intervertebral disc degeneration is strongly associated with back pain, sciatica and other spinal disorders including spinal stenos is, a major cause of pain and disability in the elderly. These crippling disorders affect a large proportion of the population and around ten percent of cases become chronically ill. The costs of these disorders are immense; estimated at 1.7% of GNP in the Netherlands. Degeneration arises from a complex interplay between ageing, genetic susceptibility and life-style factors. We will investigate relationships between changes in the mechanical environment, cellular activity and tissue breakdown in relation to degeneration-associated polymorphisms and examine the relationship between genetics and environment in a classic twin study. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesgenetics Programme(s) FP5-LIFE QUALITY - Specific Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Quality of life and management of living resources", 1998-2002 Topic(s) 1.1.1.-6. - Key action The Ageing Population and Disabilities Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD EU contribution No data Address Parks road OX1 3PT Oxford United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all EINDHOVEN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Netherlands EU contribution No data Address Den dolech 2 5600 MB Eindhoven See on map Total cost No data NATIONAL CENTRE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 'DEMOKRITOS' Greece EU contribution No data Address Patriarchou grogoriou 15310 Athens See on map Total cost No data TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Israel EU contribution No data Address Technion city Haifa See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data THE ROBERT JONES AND AGNES HUNT ORTHOPAEDIC AND DISTRICT HOSPITAL NHS TRUST United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Shrophsire SY10 7AG Oswestry See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITAETSKLINIKUM ULM Germany EU contribution No data Address Helmholtzstrasse 14 89081 Ulm See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI Finland EU contribution No data Address Mannerhermintie 00014 Helsinki See on map Total cost No data