Two Barwon Health researchers were saluted at the Smart Geelong Network Researcher of the Year Awards.

Dr Kerrie Sanders received the biomedical research award and Associate Professor Julie Pasco the population health and wellbeing research award.

Dr Sanders was awarded the Bendigo Bank Biomedical Award for her A randomised control trial of annual vitamin D supplementation to older women research project.

Osteoporotic fractures and falls are major health problems among the elderly and have been estimated to affect 50 per cent of older women.

As Australia's population ages, the number of older people sustaining fractures and other injuries from falls is predicted to increase markedly.

Vitamin D deficiency predisposes to fracture through two independent pathways—increased likelihood of falling and increased bone fragility and, therefore, constitutes an important modifiable risk factor.

Dr Sanders recruited 2,300 older women to take part in her study using a dose of vitamin D (cholecalciferol) that was safe but sufficiently high to impact on muscle strength and bone health.

The study began in 2003 and will be completed by 2008.

Associate Professor Pasco was awarded the St John of God Pathology—PathCare award for her Osteoporosis in men—a population-based study in Geelong research project that characterised risk factors for fracture.

Osteoporosis—historically perceived as a disease of ageing women—is a significant•though poorly understood, diagnosed and under-treated—threat to ageing bones in men.

Men recruited for Associate Professor Pasco's study were characterised for risk factors for fracture through clinical assessment (bone density, structure and microarchitecture), biochemical analytes (calcium/vitamin D endocrine system and hormone profile), genetic factors, diet, lifestyle (physical activity, smoking, alcohol and tobacco use), quality of life and medical history.

The research is part of the Geelong Osteoporosis Study (GOS) that began for women during 1993 and for men a decade later.

It is a joint project of the University of Melbourne's Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences and Barwon Health.