Calgary’s Centre for Mobility and Joint Health (MoJo) is one of the province’s most active research imaging facilities. As a key component of the clinical trial infrastructure at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, MoJo is home to state-of-the-art imaging, movement assessment and diagnostic equipment, some of which is only available at a handful of sites worldwide. Complementing this is a highly skilled team of experts and licensed imaging professionals holding extensive research experience.
Although based within the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, the centre is equipped to support more than just orthopedic research. There are currently over 60 active projects taking place at MoJo across a range of therapeutic areas including rheumatology, paediatrics, hepatology and more.
“The research we support is incredibly diverse,” says Gina McRae, Operations Manager at MoJo. “From studies that require advanced bone imaging to trials requiring trained CT technologists, we’re able to support it all.”
It is no wonder that some of the province’s top research groups rely on the unique capabilities offered by MoJo to move their studies forward. Among them is the Calgary Liver Unit (CLU) – an internationally recognized liver research group that has contributed to the development of numerous treatments for hepatic diseases (including Hepatitis C).
“We’ve partnered with the CLU on many studies over the years, and it’s been an incredibly collaborative partnership” adds Gina. “The flexibility and centralized expertise offered by MoJo has helped contribute to expedited timelines and a more positive participant experience, something the CLU values.”
“Working with MoJo has been a game changer for our study participants,” says Leah K., study coordinator with the CLU. “The fact that the facility is on-site means they can have all their procedures done on the same day.”
MoJo also plays a key role in supporting the many large, multi-site studies conducted in Alberta every year. In fact, when the University of Alberta launched a landmark study in 2017 to examine how the Alberta wildfires affected firefighters’ physical and mental health, MoJo was a clear and obvious choice to support their study efforts.
“The University of Alberta research team was looking for a secondary site in southern Alberta so they could expand the geographic area that was covered,” says Gina. “Our unique combination of state-of-the-art imaging equipment and experienced staff – all within a centralized location that was easy for participants to access – positioned us well to support the study.”
Looking ahead, MOJO is aiming to expand their infrastructure to support new clinical trials and research studies.
“We’re still a young facility – officially opened in September 2016,” adds Gina. “The fact that we’ve been able to support so many trials in this time makes us all excited for what the future holds.”
To learn more about MoJo, visit website at: https://mccaig.ucalgary.ca/research/mojo.
