Programme 3: Early development and risk of adult musculoskeletal disease

A mother’s bone health during pregnancy and her child’s diet in the first few years of life can shape that child’s risk of brittle bones and muscle loss decades later. This programme investigates how early development—from the womb through adolescence—sets the stage for adult musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoporosis and sarcopenia, which affect millions of older people. The problem is that current treatments for these conditions are largely reactive, given only after bones have already fractured or muscle has wasted away. By linking large-scale observational studies with laboratory experiments, the researchers aim to pinpoint the biological mechanisms that translate early-life factors into lifelong risk. Their previous findings have already influenced UK national guidelines on nutrition and bone health from the Department of Health, NICE, and Public Health England. If this work succeeds, it could shift the focus of public health from treating fractures in old age to preventing them from ever occurring—through targeted nutritional advice for pregnant women, infant feeding strategies, or childhood activity programmes. The result would be a quieter, less visible change: fewer hip replacements, fewer hospital stays for broken wrists, and a healthier older population that remains mobile and independent for longer.