We pursue translational research projects with basic and clinical scientists, and physicians, while establishing an excellent resource for musculoskeletal imaging-based research at UCSF. Partnerships are both interdepartmental and include pathology, epidemiology, medicine, pediatrics, and bioengineering at UCSF and UC Berkeley, as well intradepartmental with other researchers in the Radiology Department at UCSF.

About BBDG

We are a multidisciplinary group of researchers dedicated to maximizing the clinical utility of risks factors for osteoporosis and breast cancer. We provide novel measurement techniques and research support including new ways to analyze data and assure its quality in clinical trials. Bone density is the strongest modifiable risk factor for osteoporosis. Our contribution to this area includes applications in pediatric densitometry and standards of measurement. We are also developing new methods to quantify breast density, one of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer. We developed the only method that directly measures breast composition from standard mammograms as well as from standard DXA bone densitometers. On an international level, we provide the tools and know-how for cross calibrating and assuring the accuracy of Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) devices to allow for the pooling of data across sites.