Bone Research And Education Centre
Advanced research into new treatment options for osteoporosis and calcium disorders allows patients to participate in current research trials and to access new therapies before general release
Patient and Physician Education
The BREC has extensive patient and physician education materials in the form of brochures, slide decks, articles, and videos on topics such as osteoporosis, parathyroid disease, and rare bone diseases
ASBMR Ambassadors
The ASBMR Ambassadors Program consist of dynamic leaders who facilitate networking, professional development and collaboration amongst ASBMR members in their state, region, or country in an effort to strengthen the ASBMR and the bone, mineral, and musculoskeletal research science field on a global level
McMaster Fellowship
Learn more about the Metabolic Bone Disease fellowship program at McMaster University
Education
Explore the patient and physician education materials
Dr.Khan's Lectures
Watch Dr.Khan’s latest lectures
Dr. Khan has been internationally recognized as a World Expert in Hyperparathyroidism
Aliya Khan is a Professor of Clinical Medicine, Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Geriatrics at McMaster University and Director of the Calcium Disorders Clinic at McMaster University Medical Centre. She is also the Director of the Fellowship program in Metabolic Bone Disease at McMaster University.
She graduated from the University of Ottawa Medical School with Honors. She trained in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, and Endocrinology at the University of Toronto and also completed a research fellowship in Calcium and Metabolic Bone disorders at the University of Toronto.
She has published over 200 scientific papers on osteoporosis and parathyroid disease as well as numerous book chapters. She is the Editor of the Handbook of Parathyroid Diseases. She co-chaired the International Workshops on Primary Hyperparathyroidism as well as the International Workshop on hypoparathyroidism. Dr. Khan is the Chair of the Rapid Response Committee of osteoporosis Canada, a Scientific Advisor of the International Osteoporosis Foundation and Chair of the International Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Task Force.
Dr. Khan has received numerous awards including the International Clinician Instructor of the Year 2011 award by the International Society of Clinical Densitometry. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for 2012 for excellence in clinical care, research, and teaching as well as the International Hypoparathyroidism Award for 2014 and the International Osteoporosis Foundation award for publishing excellence in 2017. In 2019 she was recognized by Expert scape as being in the top 0.1% of Experts in Hyperparathyroidism in the World.
In 2020 Dr. Khan was awarded the Osteoporosis Canada Lindy Fraser Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field of osteoporosis research and education.
FAQ
What Is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a common condition affecting 1 out of every 4 women and 1 out of every 8 men. Osteoporosis affects the skeleton resulting in fragile bones, which may fracture with limited or no trauma. 1 in 5 people with hip fractures will die within a year of the fracture. 1 in 2 of those who do survive will require assistance with their day-to-day activities. As the population ages, it becomes increasingly important to diagnose and treat osteoporosis as early as possible.
How Is Osteoporosis Diagnosed?
Osteoporosis can be detected before a fracture occurs. This is made possible through bone density testing. These tests allow measurements of bone thickness and calcium content by simple x–ray based scans using negligible doses of radiation. We complete bone density tests as well as additional blood and urine tests to determine the presence, type and severity of osteoporosis, and all diagnostic tests are completed onsite. Bone biopsies may be necessary to determine the exact cause of osteoporosis in individuals not responding to treatment and those who continue to suffer from fractures despite effective therapy. Bone biopsies can also be helpful in determining the type of bone disease present in those individuals who have kidney disease. Bone biopsies for the Region of Halton are completed by Dr. Khan at Halton Healthcare Services.
Can Osteoporosis Be Treated?
Numerous treatment options exist for the effective management of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. Dr. Khan and her team are extensively involved in advancing new treatment options for both the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis. Patients may choose to participate in current research trials. Research trials enable patients to access new therapies before the general release of new treatment options.
What Roles Do Rehabilitation, Diet, and Exercise Play?
The Prevention and Rehabilitation of Osteoporosis (PRO) program, developed at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute by Dr. Chow, is an exercise program shown to safely and effectively improve bone density in patients with osteoporosis. Dietary and lifestyle changes also play an important part in the management of osteoporosis. We provide patients with onsite resources such as educational material, Bone Fit Program exercise instruction, and the services of a range of qualified paramedical professionals, to support ongoing rehabilitation and patient education.
Bone Research and Education Centre (BREC)
The BREC is a Centre of Excellence in the Diagnosis and Management of Metabolic Bone Disease, Calcium and Parathyroid Disorders. The goals and objectives of the BREC are:
1. To deliver state of the art clinical care to people with metabolic bone disease or calcium and parathyroid disorders.
2. Advance clinical research in understanding the mechanisms for disease development and development of new drug therapy
3. Disseminate knowledge providing physicians both generalists and specialists with the tools to diagnose and treat bone diseases and calcium disorders.
4. Provide an onsite multi-media learning center for patients and physician
The Center will provide clinical care with on-site diagnosis and management of complex metabolic bone diseases, calcium, and parathyroid diseases. Clinical research will focus on developing new therapies for osteoporosis, renal osteodystrophy, and parathyroid diseases. Bone biopsies will continue to be completed at Halton Healthcare Services. Bone Density studies will be completed on-site.