Calcium crystal deposits inside the knee joint
Project 3: Intraarticular Mineralization
Using advanced dual-energy CT scans to find calcium crystal deposits in people with knee osteoarthritis and link those deposits to joint inflammation, pain, and structural changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311337 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will use dual-energy CT (DECT) to more sensitively detect calcium mineral deposits inside knee joints and a new image-analysis method to tell which crystal type is present (CPP versus BCP). Researchers will combine the imaging with stored blood samples and planned collection of joint (synovial) fluid from participants in the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST). They will look for patterns between crystal presence/type, low-grade inflammation, pain levels, and changes in joint structure over time. If specific crystals drive inflammation and pain, that could point toward targeted anti-inflammatory treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with knee osteoarthritis, especially those enrolled in or eligible for the MOST study who can undergo DECT imaging and possible joint fluid collection.
Not a fit: People without knee osteoarthritis or those who do not have intra-articular calcium deposits are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify a treatable source of inflammation and pain in knee osteoarthritis and guide trials of targeted anti-cytokine therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies using standard X-rays gave mixed results, but using DECT combined with novel image analysis to type crystals is relatively new and shows promise.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Neogi, Tuhina — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Neogi, Tuhina
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.