Energy use in bone-breaking cells during male bone loss
Official title: Energy substrate plasticity during osteoclastogenesis in male mice
Funded at Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-11450153 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in mice looks at how bone-resorbing cells use energy, especially in the context of aging and low male hormones, to understand why osteoporosis happens in men.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 25, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $671,824 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK145777-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450153 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are males with osteoporosis risk or those undergoing androgen-deprivation therapy, and whose condition could be studied through metabolic and cellular bone pathways in future human research.
✕Less likely to help
This work is in mice and focuses on cellular mechanisms; direct benefits to human patients are not guaranteed during this preclinical phase.
What this research studies
This project explores why men develop osteoporosis by focusing on the energy metabolism of osteoclasts, the cells that break down bone. It builds on recent findings that glucose metabolism affects these cells differently in males and females, and it examines how androgens and aging influence this process in male mice. The work combines genetic and metabolic approaches to see how changing energy substrates impacts osteoclast formation and bone resorption. Results could point to new targets for preventing fractures in men who are aging or receiving androgen-deprivation therapy. The study is conducted in a well-established pediatric/academic hospital setting with expertise in bone biology and metabolism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new strategies to prevent or treat osteoporosis in men, especially those affected by aging or low testosterone.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that metabolism influences bone-resorbing cells, with some sex-specific differences, but the male-specific metabolic pathways are not fully understood.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Long, Fanxin — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Long, Fanxin
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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.