Funding outcome

Calcium has many roles in the body including formation of bone. Bone growth starts in infants and peaks in early adulthood. It is therefore crucial to build strong bones during childhood. Unfortunately, many children are at increased risk of poor bone health due to factors including prematurity, inflammatory bowel disease, and kidney dysfunction. Calcium balance in the body involves interactions between the intestine, kidneys, and bone. If inadequate calcium is not absorbed from the intestine, it is sacrificed from the bones. Unfortunately, the mechanisms involved in intestinal calcium absorption during growth are not clearly understood and in particular by what mechanism is a positive calcium balance achieved throughout childhood. My first research objective is to begin to understand these mechanisms. I will use mice at different ages to measure gene expression and protein levels of molecules known to be involved in calcium absorption from the intestines and kidneys. I will then directly measure calcium movement across different sections of mouse intestine. My second objective is to investigate the role of a calcium channel throughout development by studying mice with a non-functioning version of this calcium channel, Trpv6. I will perform the same experiments as in the first objective using mouse tissue but also compare bone health of the mice throughout development. Given the important consequences of poor bone growth, understanding how dietary calcium is absorbed from the intestine will inform what is adequate calcium intake throughout growth providing important contributions to this area of research. The knowledge created from this project will inform appropriate interventions to support optimal bone health throughout development thereby improving overall health.