UCSF Radiology Thomas Link - Preventing Fractures and Degenerative Joint Disease Through Research

For the last 25 years, Thomas Link, MD, PhD has focused his research on degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system, in particular on osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. His goal is to develop imaging tools which allow radiologists to better assess the risk to an individual patient of suffering from a severe degenerative joint disease. This risk assessment can then identify a window of time during which therapy and lifestyle modifications can prevent the disease from either occurring or progressing. For Dr. Link, this research has a personal feel. Three generations of women in his family have suffered severe limitations in their quality of life due to severe degenerative changes of the knees, bilateral hip osteoarthritis and bilateral knee osteoarthritis.