Dr. Bon’s academic and research interests focus on the investigation of the clinical and mechanistic relationship between COPD and osteoporosis. Epidemiologic studies have established a link between COPD and low bone mineral density independent of traditional osteoporosis risk factors, including low vitamin D levels, chronic steroid use, and frailty. Dr. Bon’s research has concentrated on why this association exists. She has shown that systemic inflammatory biomarkers correlate with markers of bone turnover in patients with severe COPD. She has also shown that radiographic emphysema independently predicts low bone mineral density in smokers
