About
My name is Dean and I am the admin/owner of the Osteoporosis Advice and Treatment Site.
I used to work as a molecular biologist at Cornell University in the USA. Before my time there I did my PhD in developmental biology and molecular genetics at the Max Planck Institute in Germany and the UEA in the United Kingdom. I took my masters in Biomolecular sciences at the University of York. I entered into education at a later stage of life than most, and will always be thankful for the opportunity that the Open University gave me to study biology at degree level: I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone who is thinking about making a return to education.
It was at my time at York that I developed an interest in bones and in particularly calcium signalling. I attended a lecture on the bone remodelling cycle and the role that calcium plays in it. It remains one of my favourite lectures that I attended throughout my 10 years+ of education up to doctorate level. This lecture all those years ago, and the interest it stirred in me served as a catalyst for the creation of the Osteoporosis Advice and Treatment site that you are reading today.
Perhaps one of my greatest motivations for this site is the lack of, and more to the point often misleading, money-driven, osteoporosis information that is published; this is promoted by drug companies on one side, and marketers on the other.
Every person is different, some may require drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis, while for others this is not the case at all. It is the primary goal of this web site to put across scientifically correct data on the osteopenia and osteoporosis condition in a way that is as easy to understand as possible (given the complexities of the condition, some of the featured areas may take a little time, and perhaps a re-read in order to fully digest them). Armed with this knowledge you will be able to have a much better understanding of the treatment options that are available to you when you discuss them with your health care practitioner.
Of course one of the best ways of dealing with the increased incidence of osteoporosis is by preventative mechanisms. Unfortunately, osteoporosis is often referred to as the ‘silent disease’ because most people do not know that they are suffering from it until they have suffered a fracture or been diagnosed following a bone mineral density test. Therefore a further aim of this site is to promote the existence of the condition, and highlight the many simple preventative steps that can be taken to lower the risk of developing osteoporosis significantly.
Recently I have received many requests to link to other websites; It is the policy of this site to only link directly to informational sites that I choose personally and are relevant to my readers and the discussion taking place.
I hope you enjoy the site,
Dean Ravenscroft Ph. D.