A transdisciplinary challenge, an international response

The Foundation’s primary area of research is idiopathic scoliosis (which means  “scoliosis of unknown cause”). Scoliosis is a deformation of the spine. It is a common disease that affects about 1 to 3% children in the general population. It affects 4 girls for every boy.

Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common (70% of cases). It appears most often at puberty in an otherwise healthy child, often constituting a personal tragedy for the child at this stage of development. There is a familial predisposition.

Since its creation, the Cotrel Foundation has invested more than € 4.2 millions to support 61 research projects across the world. Their priority is to identify the elements that will lead us to discover the origin of idiopathic scoliosis

4 main research axes identified

Biomechanics
Study of the spinal axe and the forces to which it is subjected: gravity, effects of mechanical muscular constraints, ligamentary, and growth…

Genetics
Study of the heredity of the genes responsible for transmission from generation to generation.

Metabolic
Study of the cellular functions and their effect on chemical or hormonal mediators such as melatonin, estrogens

Neurosensory
Research on the nervous system and the sensorial organs (vision, balance)

Click here to download the “idiopathic scoliosis White Book” gathering all research projects supported by the Foundation since 2000.