Profiles
Dawn Aitken
Dawn Aitken
Senior Research Fellow
Menzies Institute for Medical Research
Hobart CBD Campuses
+61 3 6226 7769 (phone)
Nearly one in ten Australians suffers from osteoarthritis, a chronic condition that affects the joints (e.g. hips, knees, hands, back or ankles).
It is characterised by pain and stiffness, and it significantly affects the quality of life of people with the disease.
Dr Dawn Aitken’s work at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research aims to add to our understanding of the disease and improve how we manage and treat it.
She uses advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to gain a better understanding of how it develops and progresses. Her work contributed to an important shift in our understanding of osteoarthritis, highlighting that it is a complex disease that takes multiple forms requiring different approaches for individual patients to optimise treatment.
It used to be thought that osteoarthritis was simply a result of the body’s natural wear and tear. But Dr Aitken’s research has contributed to a growing body of evidence that it is a much more complex disease in which there may be deterioration of the cartilage in the joint, inflammation of the tissues around the joint, or changes to the bone structure.
Dr Aitken leads or collaborates in a number of major clinical trials of drugs aimed at slowing down – or halting – the progress of osteoarthritis. Traditionally, trials had focused on drugs thought to aid in the regeneration of cartilage. However, the more sophisticated understanding of osteoarthritis has opened up scope to trial drugs that target the changes to bone structure or drugs active against inflammation.
‘It would be the holy grail if we could find something that slows down the structural damage in the joints, but we know that no drug will work for everyone because it is such a heterogenous disease,’ Dr Aitken says.
Dr Aitken also studies ways to improve the management of the disease. There are a lot of risk factors for osteoarthritis, but the two most important are excess weight and previous joint injuries. ‘We used to think osteoarthritis was an inevitable part of growing old. We now know that in many cases it is environment or lifestyle-related. This means for many people it is preventable by controlling weight and avoiding injury.’
Similarly, a lot of patients with osteoarthritis are referred to a surgeon for joint replacement without fully exploring other, more conservative, options. In line with current clinical guidelines for osteoarthritis, these options include physical activity, lifestyle changes, physiotherapy and weight management.
Dr Aitken is leading a study that involves interviewing patients, GPs and surgeons about what they know about the disease, what patients are told, and how the disease is treated. This will provide the evidence base for campaigns to demonstrate the benefits of these more conservative approaches and improve the options offered to patients.
In this study, Dr Aitken collaborates with a range of stakeholders including the Tasmanian Health Service and the Royal Hobart Hospital. ‘In a smaller state like Tasmania with its single health service, engaging a wide range of stakeholders is easier,’ Dr Aitken says. ‘We’ve also found all these stakeholders keen to participate, particularly in the context of the Tasmanian Government’s goal of making Tasmania the healthiest state by 2025.’
Dr Dawn Aitken (née Doré) is an early career researcher. She completed her PhD in 2011, examining early changes which occur in knee osteoarthritis. She is currently a Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, which is supported by a NHMRC Early Career Fellowship. Dr Aitken is currently coordinating four clinical trials (two multi-centre randomised control trials (RCT) for knee osteoarthritis, a vitamin D RCT in adolescents, and a back pain RCT).
Career summary
Qualifications
- PhD, University of Tasmania, Australia. 2011 Thesis: The role of subchrondral bone in osteoarthritis
- Bachelor of Biotechnology (1st Class Hons), University of Tasmania, Australia. 2007
- Bachelor of Science (Human Kinetics), University of Ottawa, Canada. 2006
Memberships
Professional practice
- Nominated Executive Committee member of the Public Health Association of Australia, Tasmanian Branch since 2012
Administrative expertise
- Invitations to review manuscripts for ten peer reviewed journals including Arthritis & Rheumatism, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, and Arthritis, Research & Therapy
- Invitations to review for international funding bodies (e.g. Dutch Arthritis Association)
- Invited expert on 1) a national policy white paper lead by Arthritis Australia (Time to Move: Arthritis); and 2) a National Arthritis Exercise Program (NAEP) lead by Arthritis Tasmania
- External assessor for NHMRC 2013
- Selected to sit on a NHMRC Grant Review Panel as an early career observer in 2013
Teaching
epidemiology, randomised control trials, knee pain, osteoarthritis, clinical trials
Research Invitations
Dr Aitken has presented her work as first-author at 20 conferences (14 in the last 5 years), including eight international conferences (four in the last 5 years), and has received travel grants to five (totalling $5,200). Noteworthy international conferences with oral presentations include:
- Osteoarthritis Research Society International Imaging Meeting in South Carolina, USA (July 2012). Title: Responsiveness of qualitative and quantitative MRI measures over 2.7 years.
- International OA Imaging Workshop in York, England (May 2009). Title: Which subchondral bone measure is the best predictor of cartilage damage?
View more on AssocProf Dawn Aitken in WARP
Research Themes
Dr Aitken's research is strongly aligned with the University's key theme of Better Health.
Awards
Dr Aitken's consistently high academic performance is reflected in the awards, scholarships and prizes she has regularly received to date. Noteworthy awards include:
- Menzies Research Institute Early Career Postdoctoral Fellow Prize, based on excellent research achievement over the previous 12 months (2012)
- Doctoral (PhD) Award by The Royal Society of Tasmania (2012)
- Osteoarthritis Research Society International Scholarship (2011) which supported a three-month visit to the University of California, San Francisco. This is a prestigious and competitive scholarship as there were only six available internationally.
- Best abstract award at the largest European Rheumatology Conference (EULAR) in London (2011); out of over 3000 submitted abstracts worldwide.
Fields of Research
- Rheumatology and Arthritis (110322)
- Epidemiology (111706)
- Geriatrics and Gerontology (110308)
- Aged Health Care (111702)
- Primary Health Care (111717)
- Human Movement and Sports Science (110699)
- Health Promotion (111712)
- Physiotherapy (110317)
- Podiatry (110318)
- Autonomic Nervous System (110901)
- Clinical Sciences (110399)
- Health Counselling (111710)
- Nutritional Physiology (111103)
- Sports Medicine (110604)
- Endocrinology (110306)
- Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (111502)
- Cellular Immunology (110704)
- Solid Tumours (111209)
Research Objectives
- Skeletal System and Disorders (incl. Arthritis) (920116)
- Health Related to Ageing (920502)
- Allied Health Therapies (excl. Mental Health Services) (920201)
- Evaluation of Health Outcomes (920204)
- Endocrine Organs and Diseases (excl. Diabetes) (920106)
- Behaviour and Health (920401)
- Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) (920199)
- Preventive Medicine (920412)
- Nutrition (920411)
- Health Education and Promotion (920205)
- Teaching and Instruction (930299)
- Expanding Knowledge in the Medical and Health Sciences (970111)
- Disability and Functional Capacity (920403)
- Inherited Diseases (incl. Gene Therapy) (920110)
- Skin and Related Disorders (920117)
Publications
Since Dr Aitken began publishing in 2008 she has published 28 papers, including 11 first or senior author, in leading journals in the osteoarthritis and bone fields (26 in the last 5 years). Most notably, she has published three papers in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases which is the highest ranked rheumatology journal internationally for original research. She also has publications in Arthritis & Rheumatism (second highest ranked rheumatology journal for original research) and the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (highest ranked bone journal). In 2011 she was senior author on an invited review article about physical activity and knee osteoarthritis in The Physician and Sportsmedicine Journal.
Total publications
73
Highlighted publications
(6 outputs)| Year | Type | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Journal Article | Aitken D, Laslett LL, Pan F, Haugen IK, Otahal P, et al., 'A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial of HUMira (adalimumab) for erosive hand OsteoaRthritis - the HUMOR trial', Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 26, (7) pp. 880-887. ISSN 1063-4584 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2018.02.899 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 9 Co-authors: Laslett LL; Pan F; Otahal P; Jones G | |
| 2018 | Journal Article | Balogun S, Aitken D, Winzenberg T, Wills K, Scott D, et al., 'Longitudinal associations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D, physical activity, and knee pain and dysfunction with muscle loss in community-dwelling older adults', Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 73, (4) pp. 526-531. ISSN 1079-5006 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glx157 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 2 Co-authors: Balogun S; Winzenberg T; Wills K; Callisaya M; Jones G | |
| 2018 | Journal Article | Munugoda IP, Wills K, Cicuttini F, Graves SE, Lorimer M, et al., 'The association between ambulatory activity, body composition and hip or knee joint replacement due to osteoarthritis: a prospective cohort study', Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 26, (5) pp. 671-679. ISSN 1063-4584 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2018.02.895 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Munugoda IP; Wills K; Jones G; Callisaya ML | |
| 2013 | Journal Article | Dore DA, Winzenberg TM, Ding C, Otahal P, Pelletier JP, et al., 'The association between objectively measured physical activity and knee structural change using MRI', Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 72, (7) pp. 1170-1175. ISSN 0003-4967 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-201691 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 45Web of Science - 46 Co-authors: Winzenberg TM; Ding C; Otahal P; Jones G | |
| 2012 | Journal Article | Laslett LL, Dore DA, Quinn SJ, Boon P, Ryan E, et al., 'Zoledronic acid reduces knee pain and bone marrow lesions over 1 year: a randomised controlled trial', Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 71, (8) pp. 1322-1328. ISSN 0003-4967 (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-200970 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 144Web of Science - 128 Co-authors: Laslett LL; Boon P; Winzenberg TM; Jones G | |
| 2010 | Journal Article | Dore D, Quinn S, Ding C, Winzenberg T, Cicuttini F, et al., 'Subchondral Bone and Cartilage Damage - A Prospective Study in Older Adults', Arthritis and Rheumatism, 62, (7) pp. 1967-1973. ISSN 0004-3591 (2010) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/art.27467 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 43Web of Science - 41 Co-authors: Quinn S; Ding C; Winzenberg T; Jones G |
Journal Article
(67 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Balogun S, Winzenberg T, Wills K, Scott D, Callisaya M, et al., 'Prospective associations of osteosarcopenia and osteodynapenia with incident fracture and mortality over 10 years in community-dwelling older adults', Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 82 pp. 67-73. ISSN 0167-4943 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2019.01.015 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Balogun S; Winzenberg T; Wills K; Scott D; Callisaya M; Jones G | |
| 2019 | Balogun S, Winzenberg T, Wills K, Scott DS, Jones G, et al., 'Prospective associations of low muscle mass and strength with health-related quality of life over 10-year in community-dwelling older adults', Experimental Gerontology, 118 pp. 65-71. ISSN 0531-5565 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2019.01.008 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Balogun S; Winzenberg T; Wills K; Scott DS; Jones G; Callisaya ML | |
| 2019 | Pan F, Tian J, Aitken D, Cicuttini F, Jones G, 'Pain at multiple sites is associated with prevalent and incident fractures in older adults', Journal of Bone and Mineral Research pp. 1-24. ISSN 0884-0431 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.3817 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Web of Science - 1 Co-authors: Pan F; Tian J; Jones G | |
| 2019 | Zhu Z, Aitken D, Cicuttini F, Jones G, Ding C, 'Ambulatory activity interacts with common risk factors for osteoarthritis to modify increases in MRI-detected osteophytes', Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 27, (4) pp. 650-658. ISSN 1063-4584 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2018.12.023 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Zhu Z; Jones G; Ding C | |
| 2019 | Cervo MM, Shivappa N, Hebert JR, Oddy WH, Winzenberg T, et al., 'Longitudinal associations between dietary inflammatory index and musculoskeletal health in community-dwelling older adults', Clinical Nutrition pp. 1-8. ISSN 0261-5614 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2019.02.031 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Web of Science - 20 Co-authors: Oddy WH; Winzenberg T; Balogun S; Wu F; Jones G; Scott D | |
| 2018 | Pan F, Tian J, Cicuttini F, Jones G, Aitken D, 'Differentiating knee pain phenotypes in older adults: a prospective cohort study', Rheumatology, 58, (2) pp. 274-283. ISSN 1462-0324 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/key299 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1 Co-authors: Pan F; Tian J; Jones G | |
| 2018 | Aitken D, Laslett LL, Pan F, Haugen IK, Otahal P, et al., 'A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial of HUMira (adalimumab) for erosive hand OsteoaRthritis - the HUMOR trial', Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 26, (7) pp. 880-887. ISSN 1063-4584 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2018.02.899 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 9 Co-authors: Laslett LL; Pan F; Otahal P; Jones G | |
| 2018 | Balogun S, Winzenberg T, Wills K, Scott D, Jones G, et al., 'Longitudinal associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, physical activity, knee pain and dysfunction and physiological falls risk in community-dwelling older adults', Experimental Gerontology, 104 pp. 72-77. ISSN 0531-5565 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2018.01.026 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Balogun S; Winzenberg T; Wills K; Jones G; Callisaya M | |
| 2018 | Cai G, Laslett LL, Aitken D, Halliday A, Pan F, et al., 'Effect of Zoledronic Acid and Denosumab in patients with low back pain and modic change: A proof-of-principle trial', Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 33, (5) pp. 773-782. ISSN 0884-0431 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.3376 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 2 Co-authors: Laslett LL; Pan F; Otahal P; Winzenberg TM; Jones G | |
| 2018 | Crisford P, Winzenberg T, Venn A, Schultz M, Aitken D, et al., 'Factors associated with physical activity promotion by allied and other non-medical health professionals: a systematic review', Patient Education and Counseling, 101, (10) pp. 1775-1785. ISSN 0738-3991 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2018.05.011 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 2 Co-authors: Winzenberg T; Venn A; Schultz M; Cleland V | |
| 2018 | Han W, Aitken D, Zheng S, Wluka AE, Zhu Z, et al., 'Association between quantitatively measured infrapatellar fat pad high signal intensity alteration and MRI-assessed progression of knee osteoarthritis', Arthritis Care & Research pp. 1-26. ISSN 2151-464X (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/acr.23713 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Web of Science - 11 Co-authors: Han W; Zheng S; Zhu Z; Blizzard L; Winzenberg T; Jones G; Ding C | |
| 2018 | Mattap SM, Aitken D, Wills K, Halliday A, Ding C, et al., 'Patellar tendon enthesis abnormalities and their association with knee pain and structural abnormalities in older adults', Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 27, (3) pp. 449-458. ISSN 1063-4584 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2018.11.009 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1 Co-authors: Mattap SM; Wills K; Ding C; Han W; Munugoda I; Jones G; Laslett LL | |
| 2018 | Mattap SM, Aitken D, Wills K, Laslett L, Ding C, et al., 'How do MRI-detected subchondral bone marrow lesions (BMLs) on two different MRI sequences correlate with clinically important outcomes?', Calcified Tissue International, 103, (2) pp. 131-143. ISSN 0171-967X (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s00223-018-0402-8 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Web of Science - 14 Co-authors: Mattap SM; Wills K; Laslett L; Ding C; Jones G | |
| 2018 | McMillan LB, Aitken D, Ebeling P, Jones G, Scott D, 'The relationship between objectively assessed physical activity and bone health in older adults differs by sex and is mediated by lean mass', Osteoporosis International, 29, (6) pp. 1379-1388. ISSN 0937-941X (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s00198-018-4446-4 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 5 Co-authors: Jones G; Scott D | |
| 2018 | Aitken D, Laslett LL, Cai G, Hill C, March L, et al., 'A protocol for a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to compare the effect of annual infusions of zoledronic acid to placebo on knee structural change and knee pain over 24 months in knee osteoarthritis patients - ZAP2', BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 19, (1) Article 217. ISSN 1471-2474 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1186/s12891-018-2143-2 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 2Web of Science - 2 Co-authors: Laslett LL; Blizzard L; Jones G | |
| 2018 | Pan F, Tian J, Aitken D, Cicuttini F, Jones G, 'Predictors of pain severity trajectory in older adults: a 10.7-year follow-up study', Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 26, (12) pp. 1619-1626. ISSN 1063-4584 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2018.08.002 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Pan F; Tian J; Jones G | |
| 2018 | Balogun S, Aitken D, Winzenberg T, Wills K, Scott D, et al., 'Longitudinal associations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D, physical activity, and knee pain and dysfunction with muscle loss in community-dwelling older adults', Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 73, (4) pp. 526-531. ISSN 1079-5006 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glx157 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 2 Co-authors: Balogun S; Winzenberg T; Wills K; Callisaya M; Jones G | |
| 2018 | Thompson MJW, Jones G, Aitken DA, 'Constitutive melanin density is associated with higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D and potentially total body BMD in older Caucasian adults via increased sun tolerance and exposure', Osteoporosis International, 29, (8) pp. 1887-1895. ISSN 0937-941X (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s00198-018-4568-8 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Thompson MJW; Jones G | |
| 2018 | Wu F, Xiao C, Aitken D, Jones G, Winzenberg T, 'The optimal dosage regimen of vitamin D supplementation for correcting deficiency in adolescents: a pilot randomized controlled trial', European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 72, (4) pp. 534-540. ISSN 0954-3007 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/s41430-018-0098-x [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Wu F; Xiao C; Jones G; Winzenberg T | |
| 2018 | Zheng S, Tu L, Cicuttini F, Han W, Zhu Z, et al., 'Effect of vitamin D supplementation on depressive symptoms in patients with knee osteoarthritis', Journal of The American Medical Directors Association pp. 1-7. ISSN 1525-8610 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2018.09.006 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Web of Science - 1 Co-authors: Zheng S; Han W; Zhu Z; Antony B; Winzenberg T; Blizzard L; Jones G; Ding C | |
| 2018 | Zheng S, Wang B, Han W, Zhu Z, Wang X, et al., 'Vitamin D supplementation and inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers in patients with knee osteoarthritis: post hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial', British Journal of Nutrition, 120, (1) pp. 41-48. ISSN 0007-1145 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1017/S0007114518001174 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1Web of Science - 2 Co-authors: Zheng S; Han W; Zhu Z; Jin X; Antony B; Winzenberg T; Blizzard L; Jones G; Ding C | |
| 2018 | Munugoda IP, Wills K, Cicuttini F, Graves SE, Lorimer M, et al., 'The association between ambulatory activity, body composition and hip or knee joint replacement due to osteoarthritis: a prospective cohort study', Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 26, (5) pp. 671-679. ISSN 1063-4584 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2018.02.895 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Munugoda IP; Wills K; Jones G; Callisaya ML | |
| 2017 | Ahedi HG, Aspden RM, Blizzard LC, Saunders FR, Cicuttini FM, et al., 'Hip shape as a predictor of osteoarthritis progression in a prospective population cohort', Arthritis Care & Research, 69, (10) pp. 1566-1573. ISSN 2151-4658 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/acr.23166 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 9Web of Science - 125 Co-authors: Ahedi HG; Blizzard LC; Jones G | |
| 2017 | Balogun S, Winzenberg T, Wills K, Scott D, Jones G, et al., 'Prospective associations of low muscle mass and function with 10-year falls risk, incident fracture and mortality in community-dwelling older adults', Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 21, (7) pp. 843-848. ISSN 1279-7707 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s12603-016-0843-6 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 21Web of Science - 19 Co-authors: Balogun S; Winzenberg T; Wills K; Jones G; Callisaya ML | |
| 2017 | Pan F, Tian J, Aitken D, Cicuttini F, Winzenberg T, et al., 'The association of knee structural pathology with pain at the knee is modified by pain at other sites in those with knee osteoarthritis', Clinical Rheumatology, 36, (11) pp. 2549-2555. ISSN 0770-3198 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s10067-017-3838-8 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1Web of Science - 2 Co-authors: Pan F; Tian J; Winzenberg T; Jones G | |
| 2017 | Thompson MJW, Aitken DA, Otahal P, Cicolini J, Winzenberg TM, et al., 'The relationship between cumulative lifetime ultraviolet radiation exposure, bone mineral density, falls risk and fractures in older adults', Osteoporosis International, 28, (7) pp. 2061-2068. ISSN 0937-941X (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s00198-017-4001-8 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1Web of Science - 1 Co-authors: Thompson MJW; Otahal P; Winzenberg TM; Jones G | |
| 2017 | Thompson MJW, Aitken DA, van der Mei IA, Otahal P, Cicolini J, et al., 'Predictors of Beagley-Gibson skin cast grade in older adults', Skin Research and Technology, 23, (2) pp. 235-242. ISSN 0909-752X (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/srt.12328 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 4Web of Science - 4 Co-authors: Thompson MJW; van der Mei IA; Otahal P; Winzenberg TM; Jones G | |
| 2017 | Zheng S, Jin X, Cicuttini F, Wang X, Zhu Z, et al., 'Maintaining vitamin D sufficiency is associated with improved structural and symptomatic outcomes in knee osteoarthritis', American Journal of Medicine, 130, (10) pp. 1211-1218. ISSN 0002-9343 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.04.038 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 13Web of Science - 1 Co-authors: Zheng S; Jin X; Zhu Z; Han W; Winzenberg T; Antony B; Blizzard L; Jones G; Ding C | |
| 2016 | Ahedi HG, Aitken DA, Blizzard LC, Ding CH, Cicuttini FM, et al., 'Correlates of Hip Cartilage Defects: A Cross-sectional Study in Older Adults', Journal of Rheumatology, 43, (7) pp. 1406-1412. ISSN 0315-162X (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.151001 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 7Web of Science - 6 Co-authors: Ahedi HG; Blizzard LC; Ding CH; Jones G | |
| 2016 | Foong YC, Chherawala N, Aitken D, Scott D, Winzenberg T, et al., 'Accelerometer-determined physical activity, muscle mass, and leg strength in community-dwelling older adults', Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 7, (3) pp. 275-283. ISSN 2190-6009 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.12065 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 30Web of Science - 31 Co-authors: Foong YC; Winzenberg T; Jones G | |
| 2016 | Han W, Aitken D, Zhu Z, Halliday A, Wang X, et al., 'Signal intensity alteration in the infrapatellar fat pad at baseline for the prediction of knee symptoms and structure in older adults: a cohort study', ARD Online, 75 pp. 1783-1788. ISSN 1468-2060 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-208360 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 28Web of Science - 24 Co-authors: Han W; Zhu Z; Antony B; Jones G; Ding C | |
| 2016 | Han W, Aitken D, Zhu Z, Halliday A, Wang X, et al., 'Hypointense signals in the infrapatellar fat pad assessed by magnetic resonance imaging are associated with knee symptoms and structure in older adults: a cohort study', Arthritis Research & Therapy, 18, (1) Article 234. ISSN 1478-6362 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1186/s13075-016-1130-y [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 12Web of Science - 12 Co-authors: Han W; Zhu Z; Antony B; Jones G; Ding C | |
| 2016 | Hill CL, March LM, Aitken D, Lester SE, Battersby R, et al., 'Fish oil in knee osteoarthritis: a randomised clinical trial of low dose versus high dose', Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 75, (1) pp. 23-29. ISSN 1468-2060 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-207169 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 39Web of Science - 31 Co-authors: Hynes K; Jones G | |
| 2016 | Johnson LG, Butson ML, Polman RC, Raj IS, Borkoles E, et al., 'Light physical activity is positively associated with cognitive performance in older community dwelling adults', Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 19, (11) pp. 877-882. ISSN 1440-2440 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2016.02.002 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 11Web of Science - 10 Co-authors: Jones G | |
| 2016 | Khan HI, Aitken D, Ding C, Blizzard L, Pelletier JP, et al., 'Natural history and clinical significance of meniscal tears over 8 years in a midlife cohort', BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 17 Article 4. ISSN 1471-2474 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1186/s12891-015-0862-1 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 7Web of Science - 5 Co-authors: Khan HI; Ding C; Blizzard L; Jones G | |
| 2016 | Khan HI, Chou L, Aitken D, McBride A, Ding C, et al., 'Correlation between changes in global knee structures assessed on Magnetic Resonance Imaging and radiographic osteoarthritis changes over 10 years in a mid-life cohort', Arthritis Care & Research, 68, (7) pp. 958-964. ISSN 2151-4658 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/acr.22778 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 2Web of Science - 1 Co-authors: Khan HI; McBride A; Ding C; Blizzard L; Jones G | |
| 2016 | McBride A, Khan HI, Aitken D, Chou L, Ding C, et al., 'Does cartilage volume measurement or radiographic osteoarthritis at baseline independently predict ten-year cartilage volume loss?', BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 17 Article 54. ISSN 1471-2474 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1186/s12891-016-0900-7 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 2Web of Science - 3 Co-authors: McBride A; Khan HI; Ding C; Blizzard L; Jones G | |
| 2016 | Zhang W, Sun G, Aitken D, Likhodii S, Liu M, et al., 'Lysophosphatidylcholines to phosphatidylcholines ratio predicts advanced knee osteoarthritis', Rheumatology, 55, (9) pp. 1566- 1574. ISSN 1462-0324 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kew207 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 21Web of Science - 18 Co-authors: Jones G; Zhai G | |
| 2015 | Aitken D, Buchbinder R, Jones G, Winzenberg T, 'Interventions to improve adherence to exercise for chronic musculoskeletal pain in adults', Australian Family Physician, 44, (1-2) pp. 39-42. ISSN 0300-8495 (2015) [Refereed Article] Citations: Web of Science - 8 Co-authors: Jones G; Winzenberg T | |
| 2015 | Khan HI, Aitken D, Chou L, McBride A, Ding C, et al., 'A family history of knee joint replacement increases the progression of knee radiographic osteoarthritis and medial tibial cartilage volume loss over 10 years', Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 23, (2) pp. 203-209. ISSN 1063-4584 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2014.11.016 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 7Web of Science - 8 Co-authors: Khan HI; McBride A; Ding C; Blizzard L; Jones G | |
| 2015 | Khan HI, Aitken D, Chou L, McBride AP, Ding C, et al., 'Reply Letter to the Editor: Knee joint replacement and individual susceptibility for progression of knee osteoarthritis and tibial cartilage volume loss: not only genes run in the family', Osteoarthritis and Cartilage: Journal of The Osteoarthritis Research Society International, 23, (10) pp. 1819-20. ISSN 1063-4584 (2015) [Letter or Note in Journal] DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2015.05.031 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Khan HI; McBride AP; Ding C; Blizzard CL; Jones Graeme | |
| 2015 | Scott D, Ebeling PR, Sanders KM, Aitken D, Winzenberg T, et al., 'Vitamin D and physical activity status: Associations with five-year changes in body composition and muscle function in community-dwelling older adults', Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 100, (2) pp. 670-678. ISSN 1945-7197 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1210/jc.2014-3519 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 14Web of Science - 17 Co-authors: Winzenberg T; Jones G | |
| 2015 | Khan HI, Aitken D, Blizzard L, Ding C, Pelletier J-P, et al., 'History of knee injury and MRI-assessed knee structures in middle- and older-aged adults: a cross-sectional study', Clinical Rheumatology, 34 pp. 1463-1472. ISSN 1434-9949 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s10067-014-2758-0 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 3 Co-authors: Khan HI; Blizzard L; Ding C; Jones G | |
| 2014 | Ahedi H, Aitken D, Blizzard L, Cicuttini F, Jones G, 'A population-based study of the association between hip bone marrow lesions, high cartilage signal, and hip and knee pain', Clinical Rheumatology, 33, (3) pp. 369-376. ISSN 1434-9949 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s10067-013-2394-0 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 12Web of Science - 10 Co-authors: Ahedi H; Blizzard L; Jones G | |
| 2014 | Ahedi HK, Aitken D, Scott D, Blizzard L, Cicuttini F, et al., 'The Association Between Hip Muscle Cross-Sectional Area, Muscle Strength, and Bone Mineral Density', Calcified Tissue International, 95, (1) pp. 64-72. ISSN 1432-0827 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s00223-014-9863-6 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 11Web of Science - 11 Co-authors: Ahedi HK; Blizzard L; Jones G | |
| 2014 | Aitken D, Ding C, Pelletier JP, Martel-Pelletier J, Cicuttini F, et al., 'Responsiveness of Magnetic Resonance Imaging-derived Measures Over 2.7 Years', Journal of Rheumatology, 41, (10) pp. 2060-2067. ISSN 0315-162X (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.130953 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 6Web of Science - 6 Co-authors: Ding C; Jones G | |
| 2014 | Cao Y, Stannus OP, Aitken D, Cicuttini F, Antony B, et al., 'Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between systemic, subchondral bone mineral density and knee cartilage thickness in older adults with or without radiographic osteoarthritis', Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases: The Euler Journal, 73, (11) pp. 2003-2009. ISSN 1468-2060 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203691 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 24Web of Science - 23 Co-authors: Cao Y; Stannus OP; Antony B; Jones G; Ding C | |
| 2014 | Foong YC, Aitken D, Winzenberg T, Otahal P, Scott D, et al., 'The association between physical activity and reduced body fat lessens with age - Results from a cross-sectional study in community-dwelling older adults', Experimental Gerontology, 55 pp. 107-112. ISSN 0531-5565 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2014.04.006 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 18Web of Science - 18 Co-authors: Foong YC; Winzenberg T; Otahal P; Jones G | |
| 2014 | Foong YC, Khan HI, Blizzard L, Ding C, Cicuttini F, et al., 'The clinical significance, natural history and predictors of bone marrow lesion change over eight years', Arthritis Research & Therapy, 16, (4) Article R149. ISSN 1478-6362 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1186/ar4611 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 17Web of Science - 17 Co-authors: Foong YC; Khan HI; Blizzard L; Ding C; Jones G | |
| 2014 | Goldsmith GM, Aitken D, Cicuttini FM, Wluka AE, Winzenberg T, et al., 'Osteoarthritis bone marrow lesions at the knee and large artery characteristics', Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 22, (1) pp. 91-94. ISSN 1063-4584 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2013.10.022 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 5Web of Science - 5 Co-authors: Goldsmith GM; Winzenberg T; Ding CH; Jones G; Sharman JE | |
| 2014 | Han W, Cai S, Liu Z, Jin X, Wang X, et al., 'Infrapatellar fat pad in the knee: Is local fat good or bad for knee osteoarthritis?', Arthritis Research & Therapy, 16, (4) Article R145. ISSN 1478-6362 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1186/ar4607 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 46Web of Science - 42 Co-authors: Han W; Liu Z; Jin X; Wang X; Antony B; Cao Y; Jones G; Ding C | |
| 2014 | Scott D, Hayes A, Sanders KM, Aitken D, Ebeling PR, et al., 'Operational definitions of sarcopenia and their associations with 5-year changes in falls risk in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults', Osteoporosis International, 25, (1) pp. 187-193. ISSN 1433-2965 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s00198-013-2431-5 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 62Web of Science - 58 Co-authors: Jones G | |
| 2014 | Scott D, Sanders KM, Aitken D, Hayes A, Ebeling PR, et al., 'Sarcopenic obesity and dynapenic obesity: 5-year associations with falls risk in middle-aged and older adults', Obesity: a research journal, 22, (6) pp. 1568-1574. ISSN 1930-7381 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/oby.20734 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 47Web of Science - 43 Co-authors: Jones G | |
| 2013 | Ahedi H, Aitken D, Blizzard L, Cicuttini F, Jones G, 'The association between hip bone marrow lesions and bone mineral density: a cross-sectional and longitudinal population-based study', Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 21, (10) pp. 1545-1549. ISSN 1063-4584 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2013.06.002 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 4Web of Science - 4 Co-authors: Ahedi H; Blizzard L; Jones G | |
| 2013 | Khan HI, Aitken D, Zhai G, Ding C, Pelletier J-P, et al., 'Association between hip and knee cartilage measured using radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging: the Tasmanian Older Adult Cohort Study', Rheumatology, 52, (11) pp. 2009-2015. ISSN 0080-2727 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/ket243 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 4Web of Science - 4 Co-authors: Khan HI; Ding C; Blizzard L; Jones G | |
| 2013 | Dore DA, Winzenberg TM, Ding C, Otahal P, Pelletier JP, et al., 'The association between objectively measured physical activity and knee structural change using MRI', Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 72, (7) pp. 1170-1175. ISSN 0003-4967 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-201691 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 45Web of Science - 46 Co-authors: Winzenberg TM; Ding C; Otahal P; Jones G | |
| 2012 | Dore D, De Hoog J, Giles G, Ding C, Cicuttini F, et al., 'A longitudinal study of the association between dietary factors, serum lipids, and bone marrow lesions of the knee', Arthritis Research & Therapy, 14, (1) Article R13. ISSN 1478-6362 (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1186/ar3689 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 25Web of Science - 23 Co-authors: De Hoog J; Ding C; Jones G | |
| 2012 | Laslett LL, Dore DA, Quinn SJ, Boon P, Ryan E, et al., 'Zoledronic acid reduces knee pain and bone marrow lesions over 1 year: a randomised controlled trial', Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 71, (8) pp. 1322-1328. ISSN 0003-4967 (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-200970 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 144Web of Science - 128 Co-authors: Laslett LL; Boon P; Winzenberg TM; Jones G | |
| 2012 | Van der Mei IAF, Dore D, Winzenberg T, Blizzard L, Jones G, 'Vitamin D deficiency in Tasmania: A whole of life perspective', Internal Medicine Journal, 42, (10) pp. 1137-1144. ISSN 1444-0903 (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2012.02788.x [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 8Web of Science - 7 Co-authors: Van der Mei IAF; Winzenberg T; Blizzard L; Jones G | |
| 2011 | Jones G, Schultz MG, Dore D, 'Physical Activity and Osteoarthritis of the Knee: Can MRI Scans Shed More Light on This Issue?', The Physician and Sportsmedicine: A Peer Reviewed Journal of Medical Aspects of Sports, Exercise and Fitness, 39, (3) pp. 55-61. ISSN 0091-3847 (2011) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.3810/psm.2011.09.1921 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 6Web of Science - 4 Co-authors: Jones G; Schultz MG | |
| 2010 | Dore D, Ding C, Winzenberg T, Cicuttini F, Jones G, 'Reply to letter by Hayashi et al. commenting on choice of pulse sequences for MRI based semi-quantitative assessment of cartilage defects ', Arthritis & Rheumatism, 62, (12) pp. 3831-3832. ISSN 0004-3591 (2010) [Letter or Note in Journal] DOI: 10.1002/art.27730 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 7 Co-authors: Ding C; Winzenberg T; Jones G | |
| 2010 | Dore D, Martens A, Quinn S, Ding C, Winzenberg T, et al., 'Bone marrow lesions predict site-specific cartilage defect development and volume loss: a prospective study in older adults', Arthritis Research & Therapy, 12, (6) EJ ISSN 1478-6354 (2010) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1186/ar3209 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 57Web of Science - 52 Co-authors: Martens A; Quinn S; Ding C; Winzenberg T; Jones G | |
| 2010 | Dore D, Quinn S, Ding C, Winzenberg T, Cicuttini F, et al., 'Subchondral Bone and Cartilage Damage - A Prospective Study in Older Adults', Arthritis and Rheumatism, 62, (7) pp. 1967-1973. ISSN 0004-3591 (2010) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/art.27467 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 43Web of Science - 41 Co-authors: Quinn S; Ding C; Winzenberg T; Jones G | |
| 2010 | Dore D, Quinn S, Ding C, Winzenberg T, Zhai G, et al., 'Natural history and clinical significance of MRI-detected bone marrow lesions at the knee: a prospective study in community dwelling older adults', Arthritis Research & Therapy, 12, (6) EJ ISSN 1478-6354 (2010) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1186/ar3210 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 87Web of Science - 76 Co-authors: Quinn S; Ding C; Winzenberg T; Jones G | |
| 2010 | Stannus OP, Jones G, Quinn SJ, Cicuttini FM, Dore D, et al., 'The association between leptin, interleukin-6, and hip radiographic osteoarthritis in older people: a cross-sectional study', Arthritis Research & Therapy, 12, (3) EJ ISSN 1478-6354 (2010) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1186/ar3022 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 49Web of Science - 42 Co-authors: Stannus OP; Jones G; Quinn SJ; Ding C | |
| 2009 | Dore D, Quinn S, Ding C, Winzenberg T, Jones G, 'Correlates of Subchondral BMD: A Cross-Sectional Study', Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 24, (12) pp. 2007-2015. ISSN 0884-0431 (2009) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1359/JBMR.090532 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 34Web of Science - 33 Co-authors: Quinn S; Ding C; Winzenberg T; Jones G | |
| 2008 | Dore D, Ding C, Jones G, 'A pilot study of the reproducibility and validity of measuring knee subchondral bone density in the tibia', Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 16, (12) pp. 1539-1544. ISSN 1063-4584 (2008) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2008.04.012 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 19Web of Science - 17 Co-authors: Ding C; Jones G |
Review
(1 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Van der Mei IAF, Dore D, 'Vitamin D supplementation in infants', Report for the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services (2010) [Substantial Review] Co-authors: Van der Mei IAF |
Conference Publication
(5 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Pan F, Tian J, Aitken D, Cicuttini F, Jones G, 'Pain at multiple sites is associated with prevalent and incident fractures in older adults: a 5.1-year follow-up study', Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, ASBMR Annual Meeting 2018, September - October, Montreal, Canada ISSN 0884-0431 (2018) [Conference Extract] Co-authors: Pan F; Tian J; Jones G | |
| 2017 | Pan F, Tian J, Aitken D, Cicuttini F, Ding C, et al., 'Characterizing and validating the phenotype of knee pain: a latent class analysis', Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, pp. 471, June. ISSN 0003-4967 (2017) [Conference Extract] DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-eular.3033 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Pan F; Tian J; Ding C; Jones G | |
| 2016 | Pan F, Aitken D, Tian J, Cicuttini FM, Ding C, et al., 'Which factors associate with localized knee pain and generalized pain: A 10-year longitudinal study?', Arthritis & Rheumatology, pp. 1, Vol 68, (suppl 10). ISSN 2326-5191 (2016) [Conference Extract] Co-authors: Pan F; Tian J; Ding C; Jones G | |
| 2009 | Dore D, Ding C, Jones G, 'Natural history of areal bone marrow lesions', Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, Osteoarthritis Research Society International, September, Montreal, Canada, pp. S40-S40. (2009) [Conference Extract] Co-authors: Ding C; Jones G | |
| 2009 | Dore D, Ding C, Jones G, 'Which subchondral bone measure is the best predictor of cartilage damage?', Bone, pp. S144. (2009) [Conference Extract] Co-authors: Ding C; Jones G |
Grants & Funding
Despite the early stage of her career, Dr Aitken has received over $1 million in competitive grant funding. In 2011 she was the sole recipient of the Heald Fellowship from Arthritis Australia and she is currently supported by a NHMRC Early Career Fellowship.
Funding Summary
Number of grants
17
Total funding
Projects
- Funding
- National Health & Medical Research Council ($92,745)
- Scheme
- Scholarship-Postgraduate
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Aitken D; Thompson M
- Period
- 2019 - 2022
- Description
- Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is common, but the current treatments are poor. Almost 60% of people with knee OA have joint inflammation. Patients with inflammation are more likely to experience joint pain and rapid joint destruction. We propose that treating patients with inflammatory knee OA with the anti-inflammatory drug, diacerein, will reduce pain and joint damage.
- Funding
- National Health & Medical Research Council ($1,309,503)
- Scheme
- Grant-Project
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Aitken D; Jones Graeme; Cicuttini FM; Winzenberg TM; Keen H
- Period
- 2018 - 2020
- Grant Reference
- 1147370
- Funding
- Medical Research Future Fund ($431,000)
- Scheme
- Fellowship-Career Development
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Aitken D
- Period
- 2018 - 2021
- Description
- This project will implement a community walking group for patients with knee osteoarthritis. This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility of recruitment, retention, randomisation and the implementation of a RCT aimed to examine the effect walking has on knee structure (assessed using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology). We will recruit 48 participants with knee osteoarthritis who will be randomised to either a 6-month community walking group or a usual care (control) group. Participants in the walking group will train 3 days per week for 1 hour each day. Walking will be performed at a moderate intensity (50-70% of each participants heart rate reserve). This frequency/intensity is recommended for Australian adults (Australian National Physical Activity Guidelines) and for adults with knee osteoarthritis (Arthritis Australia). The structure of our program is based on a group walking protocol which showed improvement in pain in knee osteoarthritis patients. The walking program will be supervised by accredited physiotherapists with experience in prescribing exercise for knee osteoarthritis patients. Each group walking session will consist of:10 min warm up consisting of slow walking and calisthenics: arm circles, trunk rotation, shoulder and chest stretches, and side stretch.40 min group walking phase where participants are encouraged to walk at 5070% of their heart rate reserve as determined from an exercise treadmill test at the start of the study. 10 min cool down consisting of slow walking and flexibility exercises. Participants randomised to usual care will receive usual standard care from their medical practitioner, as well as generic information about knee osteoarthritis. This will the control group, and this is required in order to examine the true effect walking has on knee health.
- Funding
- Arthritis Australia ($30,000)
- Scheme
- Grant-Project
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Aitken D; Jones Graeme; Callisaya M; Balogun S
- Year
- 2018
- Description
- During the course of my CDF Fellowship I am leading five innovative research projects that aim to provide clinically translatable evidence offering new effective treatments that improve outcomes for patients with musculoskeletal diseases. Four out of the five research projects are funded either by NHMRC or industry. I am applying for the ASBMR Rising Star award to fund part of the fifth project in my research program: Do osteoporosis therapies work for back pain? We will recruit 125 patients with chronic low back pain patients. Men and women will be recruited if they are >34 years of age, have at least moderate back pain (≥40/100 on 100mm VAS) for at least 3 months, and have type 1, type 2 or mixed type Modic changes on MRI (same inclusion criteria in MODIC1). Exclusion criteria include: Neuropathic pain component is unclear/definite (painDETECT questionnaire13 score ≥12, based on MODIC1 findings); Diagnosis of a centrally mediated pain phenotype (e.g. fibromyalgia); Prior use of denosumab or bisphosphonates; Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations < 40 nmol/L; Pregnancy or breastfeeding; Prior cancer diagnosis; Poor dental fitness; Use of high doses of opiate pain medication (equivalent to oxycontin ≥80mg/day); Leg pain is of greater severity than back pain; Back surgery within the last 5 years.Eligible participants will receive one subcutaneous injection of denosumab (60mg in 1ml saline) or 1ml saline every 6 months for 24 months (0, 6, 12, 18 months).
- Funding
- American Society for Bone and Mineral Research ($82,000)
- Scheme
- Grant-Rising Star Award
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Aitken D
- Year
- 2018
- Description
- Participating in PA reduces pain and improves function in people with KOA. Despite this, people with KOA are alarmingly inactive. It is, therefore, of high priority to identify effective, low-cost and sustainable PA promotion strategies for KOA. parkrun is an international movement of weekly 5 km walk/run events held in public spaces. Parkrun has a broad appeal to various population groups including non-athletes, however no previous reports had evaluated parkrun as a promising PA promotion setting for KOA. Our study will determine the feasibility, acceptability and safety of parkrun as a novel strategy to promote PA for people with KOA.
- Funding
- Medibank Better Health Foundation ($31,313)
- Scheme
- Grant - Project Grant Funding
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Aitken D; Lahham A; Jose KA; Cleland V; Jones Graeme; Winzenberg TM; Grunseit A
- Period
- 2018 - 2019
- Description
- Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of pain and disability among older people and there is currently no cure. In recent years, there has been increasing concern about the discrepancies between care provided by health professionals and recommendations in osteoarthritis clinical practice guideline. For instance, in Australia, referral to a surgeon is five times more common than referral to allied health professionals that could help with conservative management. Furthermore, patients are ambivalent towards conservative management such as exercise, thinking it will be ineffective and may even cause harm to their already worn joints. The disconnect between practice guideline and care for patients with osteoarthritis limits optimal care. Therefore, this study aims to explore the attitudes towards and understanding of osteoarthritis held by Australian GPs, surgeons and patients with knee osteoarthritis. The overarching goal is to gather information needed to develop Australian-specific education and behaviour change programs for GPs, surgeons and osteoarthritis patients
- Funding
- University of Tasmania ($24,824)
- Scheme
- Grant- Research Enhancement Program
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Balogun S; Aitken D; Winzenberg TM; Hansen EC; Newsham-West H; Laslett LL
- Year
- 2018
- Description
- Knee osteoarthritis is a highly heterogeneous condition characterised by a complex and multifactorial nature. The pain experience in knee osteoarthritis is similarly individualized and complex; some patients may present with pain that appears attributable to classic signs of joint damage, while others may present with pain due to psychological distress or central mechanisms. However, whether these variables (or interactions between variables) are representative of different pain phenotypes in knee osteoarthritis and whether patients with distinct pain phenotypes have different risk for long-term health outcomes are unknown. This project aims to identify the pain phenotypes in OA patients and compare the risk of long-term health outcomes between different pain phenotypes. This study will help clinicians better prioritize and target interventions to individual patients and will lead to better outcomes and fewer treatment complications currently associates with pharmaceutical and surgical interventions that are widely used to treat knee osteoarthritis.
- Funding
- University of Tasmania ($9,669)
- Scheme
- Grant- Research Enhancement Program
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Pan Feng; Jones Graeme; Winzenberg TM; Tian Jing; Aitken D
- Year
- 2018
- Description
- Aims: to compare efficacy of krill oil vs identical placebo on cartilage composition (T2 mapping values) in 260patients with clinical knee OA, significant knee pain and effusion on imaging, using a randomised, placebocontrolled doubleblind design over six months in an NHMRC-funded clinical trial.
- Funding
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research ($30,000)
- Scheme
- Grant - Development Grant
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Laslett LL; Eathakkattu Antony BS; Aitken D
- Year
- 2016
- Description
- This project will conduct a randomised open label pilot study on two potential treatments for back pain targeting Modic changes (zoledronic acid or denosumab).
- Funding
- Tasmanian Community Fund ($88,721)
- Scheme
- Grant
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Laslett LL; Aitken D; Jones Graeme
- Year
- 2014
- Funding
- The Royal Society of Tasmania ($1,000)
- Scheme
- Doctoral (PhD) Award for 2013
- Administered By
- Menzies Research Institute Tasmania
- Research Team
- Aitken Dawn
- Year
- 2013
- Funding
- National Health & Medical Research Council ($299,564)
- Scheme
- Fellowship-Early Career
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Aitken D
- Period
- 2013 - 2016
- Grant Reference
- 1052708
- Description
- Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is increasing markedly due to an ageing population. Despite its large disease burden, there are currently no approved disease-modifying drugs available which modify structural progression of OA. The aim of this study is to compare zoledronic acid treatment to placebo on knee structural change and knee pain over two years. It is hypothesised that zoledronic acid will reduce cartilage loss, knee pain, and bone marrow lesion size.
- Funding
- National Health & Medical Research Council ($954,596)
- Scheme
- Grant-Project
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Jones Graeme; Cicuttini FM; March L; Hill Catherine; Aitken D
- Period
- 2013 - 2015
- Grant Reference
- 1045415
- Funding
- University of Tasmania ($1,500)
- Scheme
- Grant-Conference Support Scheme
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Aitken D
- Year
- 2012
- Funding
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners/Osteoporosis Australia ($30,000)
- Scheme
- Grant-Bone Health
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Winzenberg TM; Aitken D; Jones Graeme
- Period
- 2012 - 2014
- Funding
- Arthritis Australia ($50,000)
- Scheme
- Fellowship-Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Aitken D
- Year
- 2011
- Funding
- Osteoarthritis Research Society International ($6,126)
- Scheme
- Scholarship-Exchange
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Aitken D
- Year
- 2010
Research Supervision
Dr Aitken currently supervises a number of PhD students. She has supervised one Honours student as primary supervisor. Her students have achieved notable success through conference presentation and publication in peer reviewed journals.
Current
8
Completed
5
Current
| Degree | Title | Commenced |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | Knee Osteoarthritis, Its Comorbidity and the Role of Vitamin D | 2015 |
| PhD | Hand and Knee Joints Pathological Abnormalities via Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Their Role in Pain, Physical Functional Deficits, and Cartilage Volume Loss in Older Adult Cohort | 2016 |
| PhD | Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis MRI Markers, Risk Factors and Associations with the WOMAC Sub Scales Over 10 years | 2016 |
| PhD | Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Zoledronic Acid in Pain and Structural Changes in Knee Osteoarthritis and Back Pain | 2017 |
| PhD | Cost-Effectiveness of Formal and Informal Prevention and Treatment Against Upper Respiratory Tract Infections Among Rural Residents in Anhui, China | 2018 |
| PhD | Cutaneous Correlates of Skeletal Health | 2018 |
| PhD | Improving the Non-Drug Management of Osteoarthritis Epidemiology Through to Clinical Practice | 2018 |
| Masters | Objective Patient Centred Outcomes: Movement data in orthopaedic surgery | 2019 |
Completed
| Degree | Title | Completed |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | How and Why do Podiatrists Promote Physical Activity? Candidate: Paul Raymond Crisford | 2019 |
| PhD | Infrapatellar Fat Pad and Knee Osteoarthritis Candidate: Weiyu Han | 2019 |
| PhD | Long-Term Risk Factors for, and the Impact of Age-related Muscle Loss on the Musculoskeletal Health of Older Adults Candidate: Saliu Adejumobi Balogun | 2018 |
| PhD | Determinants of Structural Changes in the Knee Joint in a Middle-Aged Cohort with a Low Prevalence of Osteoarthritis Candidate: Hussain Ijaz Khan | 2017 |
| PhD | Assessment of Hip Structure and Musculature using MRI and DXA Images from Tasoac Cohort Candidate: Harbeer Kaur Ahedi | 2016 |