NOREPOS (Norwegian Epidemiologic Osteoporosis Studies) is a national research collaboration network of researchers from five different scientific institutions across Norway. We perform epidemiologic research in the field of osteoporosis. The collaborating institutions in NOREPOS are: the University of Bergen (UiB); UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø; the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU); the University of Oslo (UiO); and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. The collaboration has existed since 1997. Eight senior researchers, two from each geographical location, constitute the members of the core steering committee. In addition, we have several affiliated Research Fellows and Post Docs. The NOREPOS network has received two large grants from the Research Council of Norway, in 2008 and 2017, respectively.

We use data sources from large population-based studies in Norway where bone mineral density measurements have been performed. Hip fractures constitute an important endpoint in our research. We have established a database of all hip fractures operated in hospitals in Norway 1994-2019; the NORHip database. We are interested in studying risk factors for osteoporosis and fractures on a population level, including dietary factors, physical activity, weight changes, drug use, and environmental factors such as drinking water quality. This is achieved by linking hip fracture data to data from health studies and registers. Our goal is to come closer to answering the question: Why does Norway have the highest incidence of hip fractures ever reported worldwide?

NOREPOS was featured in the spring 2024 issue of the magazine EU Research. You can read the article here. (right-click and open in external tab to access external link)

You can read more about our research projects here, including the ongoing project NOREPOS-Climate.