Pioneering MuscleMap project secures strong philanthropic support A project to develop an innovative tool which could revolutionise the detection and treatment of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions has received a $230,000 gift.
The anonymous donation was made following a campaign by the University of Sydney and the NORTH Foundation to support the world’s first, open- source dataset of whole-body muscle composition. The Kolling Institute’s Academic Director Professor James Elliott said there was a critical need for the diagnostic tool, with muscle and neurological conditions among the leading causes of illness and disability worldwide. “With these conditions affecting more than four billion people, they are expected to cost around $21 billion in healthcare expenditure by 2033 in Australia alone,” he said. “Early identification and intervention are crucial if we are to offer long-term health benefits and minimise the disease burden. “We know these conditions often lead to a steady decline in muscle health, and this decline is evident by an increase in fat deposits in the muscles and the loss of muscle fibres. “CT and MRI scans can be used to identify these changes, but the time it currently takes is prohibitive.” The MuscleMap approach however, will automatically identify any changes, potentially revolutionising the detection
of muscle health in any part of the body. It could inform
treatment for everyone from elite athletes to astronauts and older people with complex conditions. Astronauts for instance, experience significant muscle
loss due to the effects of exposure to zero gravity.
Using existing MRI and CT scans, the landmark global study has applied an artificial intelligence model to produce a dataset of muscle health of any part of the body. This will enable a patient’s muscle deterioration to be compared with a healthy person’s. James said it will mean a clinician will be able to upload a scan into the MuscleMap program, and within minutes, will have access to detailed information measuring muscle composition compared to a reference dataset. “For athletes and the general population, the tool will accurately inform the journey from injury
Professor James Elliott
to repair, recovery and return to physical activity,” he said. “We are very appreciative of this generous donation to the MuscleMap project. “It will be a pioneering resource, accessible to clinicians and researchers globally, and supporting the long-term health of communities.”
“For patients with osteoporosis, the program will provide a detailed analysis of overall health and muscle deterioration, which will then inform personalised strategies to develop healthier muscle mass and improve general health and wellbeing.”
24 NSLHD 2025 Year in Review
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