Dr Linda Troeberg, of the Kennedy Institute NDORMS has been awarded an Associate Research Fellowship by St Hilda's College.
This new category of research fellowship has been established by St Hilda's to support a dynamic research environment and to enhance the academic life and work of mid-career academics in Oxford through providing a chance to be part of the unique interdisciplinary environment of a college.
Dr Troeberg said "I'm delighted to strengthen the NDORMS association with St Hilda's by joining Philippa Hulley and Catherine Swales as a St Hilda's Fellow. The multi-disciplinary environment of the college is a very stimulating environment for academic growth."
Her research group at the Kennedy Institute focuses on what increases and decreases loss of cartilage in osteoarthritis (OA), to improve treatment solutions for the condition.
Osteoarthritis is a common condition of the joints, affecting around six million people in the UK, and caused largely by degeneration of cartilage at the ends of bones, and also inflammation, leading to pain and stiffness. Currently, there is no effective treatment available for this painful and disabling condition.
Understanding the detailed molecular changes that occur in the joints as the disease develops is crucial to the development of a successful cure. The Troeberg Group has identified that a key cellular mechanism important for cartilage health is disrupted in osteoarthritis and are using recently developed technologies to understand why this occurs, to develop new drugs to treat or prevent the condition.
Dr Troeberg is one of three new ARFs at St Hilda's, all of whom have a strong research profile and are committed to enriching the College's research environment. She joins NDORMS Professor Philippa Hulley and Dr Catherine Swales as a Fellow at the College.
St Hilda's College was founded in 1893 as an Oxford Hall for women and was incorporated in the University by Royal Charter in 1926, as St Hilda's College, Oxford. The College aimed to open up university education to women. Now welcoming both women and men, St Hilda's "remains true to its founding principles, promoting equal opportunity and social inclusivity while expanding the boundaries of knowledge and human potential."
