Building stronger bones by targeting a bone-cell protein (DOCK7)
Official title: Project 2 - Becker
Funded at University of New England · NIH-11251587 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether targeting a protein called DOCK7 can help bone-forming cells make stronger bone for people with osteoporosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New England NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Biddeford, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $252,664 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM152330-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11251587 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with osteoporosis or low bone mineral density, especially those who cannot tolerate or do not respond to current anti-resorptive therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People with normal bone density or whose bone loss is driven by causes unrelated to osteoblast signaling (for example certain metastatic cancers) would be unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This work focuses on a protein called DOCK7 that helps control cell signaling in bone cells. Researchers will study how DOCK7 affects osteoblasts (the cells that build bone) and osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone) using cell and laboratory models to map the pathways that control bone formation and mineralization. By identifying how DOCK7 and related signals regulate bone density, the team hopes to pinpoint new targets for drugs that stimulate bone growth. The research is lab-based at the University of New England rather than a clinical trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new bone-building treatments that raise bone density and lower fracture risk with fewer side effects than current options.
How similar studies have gone: There are approved anabolic bone drugs that can build bone but have limitations, and targeting DOCK7 is a novel, early-stage approach that has not yet been tested in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New England
Biddeford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Becker, Kathleen a — University of New England
- Study coordinator: Becker, Kathleen a
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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.