Musculoskeletal Metabolism Group

Based within the Department of Biomedical Sciences, the group is led by Associate Professor Rowan Hardy and Dr Michael Sagmeister. We integrate discovery science with translational approaches, combining human tissue studies, preclinical models, and clinical research to accelerate the translation of fundamental biology into patient benefit. Our research focuses on the roles of androgen and glucocorticoid metabolism in musculoskeletal disease pathophysiology in settings such as inflammatory arthritis, lung inflammation, chronic kidney disease, and cancer, with an emphasis on how local steroid metabolism shapes musculoskeletal outcomes. Through both preclinical and patient-based studies, we are developing and evaluating metabolism-targeted interventions designed to reduce disease burden and improve quality of life, while addressing the wider challenges associated with multimorbidity and healthcare costs.

To achieve these goals, we collaborate with leading national and international centres of excellence. These include the Inflammatory Arthritis, Sarcopenia and Multimorbidity, and Women’s Metabolic Health themes within the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC); the EXCENTRICC Centre of corticosteroid use in clinical practice at the University of Southern Denmark; the NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism at Maastricht University; and the ANZAC Bone Biology Group at the University of Sydney. Our work is supported by major funding bodies including UKRI (MRC and BBSRC), NIHR, Versus Arthritis, the Foundation to Eradicate Duchenne, and the British Heart Foundation. Together, our interdisciplinary programme aims to redefine the fundamental role of steroid metabolism in human health and disease.

The musculoskeletal metabolism group integrates academic translational researchers from both basic research and clinical backgrounds, with technical and early career researchers and PhD students from disciplines including rheumatology, orthopaedics, materials science, immunology, nephrology, nutrition and sports sciences. We actively participate in cross-disciplinary research across the University and with our Nationally and International partners, and welcome opportunities to develop new collaboration.