Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) for Skeletal Health and Repair

Multidisciplinary Research for the Prevention and Treatment of Joint Diseases

Joint diseases impact the quality of life of more than 40 million Americans and are among the leading causes of disability. Increases in incidences of joint diseases can be attributed to an aging baby boomer generation and high obesity rates.

The COBRE for Skeletal Health and Repair at Rhode Island Hospital enables clinicians, scientists, engineers and biologists to work side-by-side on multidisciplinary research, helping to better understand cartilage and joint health mechanisms and develop strategies for the prevention and treatment of skeletal joint diseases.

Researcher's Decades-Long Pursuit Sparks Clinical Success

Gregory Jay, MD, PhD, has found clinical and commercial success after pursuing his research into lubricin, a naturally occurring protein in the body, for more than 30 years.

Meet Dr. Qian Chen

Qian Chen, PhD, is the director and principal investigator of the COBRE Center for Skeletal Health and Repair.

Says Dr. Chen, "I am honored to continue to lead this COBRE center and hope the research performed at Rhode Island Hospital, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and in the city of Providence will translate into newer and better treatments, cures and preventive techniques that will improve the health of all Americans."

Rhode Island Hospital’s Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) in Skeletal Health and Repair was awarded a $5.8 million, five-year Phase III grant by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to support ongoing research in the area of cartilage and joint diseases. In 2012, COBRE was awarded a $10.8 million NIH Phase II grant to fund studies of cartilage and joint health, and an $11 million NIH Phase I grant in 2007.