3‑D map of the knee's sensory nerves
Mapping the joint-nerve interactome of the knee
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-11167000
Creating detailed 3‑D maps and cell profiles of knee nerves to better understand pain from aging, injury, and osteoarthritis.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11167000 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would be helping scientists build high‑resolution 3‑D models of the knee's sensory nerve network using advanced tissue‑clearing and light‑sheet microscopy. The team will profile individual nerve and joint cells with single‑cell and spatial transcriptomics to learn which genes those cells express. They will study both mouse knees and human knee tissue and compare young, aged, injured, and osteoarthritic joints. The final deliverables are a cell atlas and anatomical maps that show how nerves and joint cells interact.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with knee osteoarthritis or prior knee injury, and patients undergoing knee surgery who can donate tissue for research.
Not a fit: People without knee disease or those not able or willing to provide tissue samples are unlikely to directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal specific nerve cell types and molecular signals to target for better pain-relief treatments for knee osteoarthritis and injury.
How similar studies have performed: Prior anatomical and single‑cell studies have characterized joint cells or nerves separately, but combining whole‑joint 3‑D imaging with single‑cell and spatial transcriptomics to map the nerve–joint interactome is a novel, more comprehensive approach.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MALFAIT, ANNE-MARIE — RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: MALFAIT, ANNE-MARIE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.