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Arthritis first: family steer medical breakthrough

A Victorian family affected by a severe form of osteoarthritis is at the centre of a world-first medical breakthrough.

They've helped Melbourne researchers identify a gene that's expected to lead to new treatments for all arthritis sufferers.

Four generations of Ian Begg's family have had a severe form of osteoarthritis.

And they're the only ones in Australia with the condition.

But with his siblings and his daughter, the Melbourne truckie has helped researchers unlock the key to what causes arthritis.

"This is a definite leap forward, the windows open, they can see the future with this," Ian told 7News.

"It's just not my family. It's a major link - ours has just been the key for them to unlock that."

The Murdoch Children's Research Institute identified a faulty gene in Ian's family, and later linked the gene to more common forms of arthritis.

"It's a new gene that has not previously been implicated in arthritis," Dr Shireen Lamande, from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, told 7News.

It is hoped the discovery of this gene will open up the way for a screening test and new treatments for all forms of arthritis.

Ian's doctor says it may be even become possible to slow down or prevent arthritis.

Professor Ravi Savarirayan, of Victoria's Clinical Genetics Services, said: "If this new molecule that we've found is relevant to those huge numbers of people with arthritis, approximately three million every year in Australia, then it's going to have massive benefits in terms of treatment and management."

For more information visit the Murdoch Children's Research Institute website by clicking here