Exploring a new system to understand pain in osteoarthritis
Official title: Testing Miniature Knee Joint System as a New Tool to Study Neuroimmune Interactions in Osteoarthritis Pain
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10995713 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the nervous and immune systems work together to cause pain in people with osteoarthritis, using a special model of a knee joint to see how certain substances affect pain signals, which could help find new ways to treat this condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 1F31AR083814-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10995713 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from osteoarthritis who experience significant pain and are seeking new treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with osteoarthritis who are not experiencing pain or those with other unrelated conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the complex interactions between the nervous and immune systems in osteoarthritis (OA) pain using a novel miniature knee joint model. By simulating human-like cartilage and synovial tissues, the study aims to uncover how inflammatory molecules affect pain perception in OA. The approach includes treating human sensory neurons with conditioned media from OA-like tissues to observe their responses, as well as examining the role of specific chemokines and neuropeptides in pain signaling. This could lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms behind OA pain and potentially identify new therapeutic targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of safer and more effective treatments for osteoarthritis pain.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach is innovative, similar research has shown promise in understanding pain mechanisms in other conditions, suggesting potential for success in this area as well.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Makarczyk, Meagan Joanne — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Makarczyk, Meagan Joanne
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
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Identifying OA subtypes and early warning signs before joint damage
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Digital biomarkers to guide personalized rehab after ACL injury
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Aberrant mechano-oxygen coupling linked to zinc-rich mineralization in osteoarthritis
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Notch signaling in TMJ osteoarthritis: uncovering mechanisms and new targets
Researchers are studying how Notch signaling affects TMJ osteoarthritis to identify new ways to protect and repair the jaw joint.
-
Nanoparticles delivering an sPLA2 blocker for knee osteoarthritis
This project uses tiny, drug-filled nanoparticles to deliver an sPLA2-blocking medicine into the knee to reduce inflammation and slow knee osteoarthritis in people with painful knee OA.
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.