The University of Sheffield
Department of Human Metabolism

Professor Nick Bishop

Professor Nick Bishop

Academic Unit of Child Health
Room C6 Stephenson Wing
Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TH

Tel: +44 (0)114 271 7303
Fax: +44 (0)114 275 5364
Email: n.j.bishop@sheffield.ac.uk

Secretary:
Joanne O'Leary
Email: j.oleary@sheffield.ac.uk
Tel: 0114 271 7303

Professor of Paediatric Bone Disease

The UK's only Professor of Paediatric Bone Disease. Trained in Manchester (clinical), Cambridge (MRC and Wellcome Fellowships)and Montreal(visiting Professor at McGill). Appointed to Chair in Sheffield in 1998. Clinical research group focuses on treatment of childhood osteoporosis; basic science group on pathophysiology of childhood bone diseases.


Research

Our research aims to improve outcomes for children with inherited and acquired bone diseases and understand better the factors contributing to fracture in apparently healthy children.

We are currently conducting two studies of oral Risedronate therapy in children with Osteogenesis Imperfect (OI) and are collaborating with colleagues in Montreal to study Zoledronie acid in infants with severe OI (PI Francis Glorieux). In addition we are waiting with colleagues to study osteoporosis in children with inflammatory joint disease (POP study, PI Madeleine Rooney, Belfast) and the effects of Vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy on skeletal outcomes in infancy (MAVIDOS study, PI Cryus Cooper). We are the European centre for an open label study of recombinant bone-targeted alkaline phosphotase in severe hypophosphotasia (PI Cheryle Greenburg; funded by Enobia Pharma). Children travel from other European countries to participate in the study.

Our recently completed dose-ranging studies of Pamidronate in infants and Risedronate in older children with moderate-severe OI have shown the need for higher treatment doses to achieve adequate restoration of bone mass (refs).

We have shown both in Sheffield and in collaboration with colleagues in Bristol that children who fracture have reduced bone mass and size for body size (refs). This difference is accentuated in children who are obese.

We are currently studying bone … - genotype relationships focussing on COLIA1 and COLIA2 polymorphism.

Ongoing and planned studies include work in the area of monogenic obesity (Dimitri), volumetric bone imaging (Arundel) and short term response to vibration (Harrison).

Bisphosphonate therapy of children with inherited bone disease: we have three studies underway currently looking at varying the dose of either zoledronic acid for infants or risedronate for older children in prospective double-blind studies. Recently completed work has shown the need for higher doses of risedronate to increase bone mass in more severely affected children.

Vitamin D in pregnancy: we have recently completed a study of endogenous vitamin D levels in association with growth in early infancy. Initial results suggest widespread low levels of vitamin D in an apparently healthy population.

Fractures in children: we have recently completed work looking at children who have none, one or more fractures. There are clear differences between the groups in terms of bone mass and architecture and confirmation of the reported increasing incidents of obesity, fizzy drink consumption, poor milk intake and reduced exercise amongst children who fracture more frequently.

Laboratory studies of gene expression in children with a variety of bone disease and, in particular, those with osteogenesis imperfecta and the effects of treatment upon gene expression over time.

Variation in the expression of factors likely to be associated with increased bone resorption in the bone marrow aspirate of children with leukaemia.

There are further planned studies in the areas of bone histology and histomorphometry in children with osteoporotic conditions and their response to bisphosphonate therapy.

Principal funding sources

Representative Publications