Exploring blood bacteria patterns as indicators of knee osteoarthritis
Official title: The peripheral blood microbiome as a potential biomarker of knee osteoarthritis
Funded at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation · NIH-11057891 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain bacteria in your blood might be connected to knee osteoarthritis, and it hopes to find patterns that can help predict if your symptoms will get worse over the next two years.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project start | September 26, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $412,610 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AR085344-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11057891 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with early knee osteoarthritis who are willing to provide blood samples for analysis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced knee osteoarthritis or those without a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the patterns of bacteria found in peripheral blood may be linked to knee osteoarthritis (OA). By analyzing blood samples from patients with early OA, the study aims to identify specific bacterial DNA patterns that could predict the progression of the disease over the next two years. The researchers will utilize machine-learning techniques to develop models that can distinguish between patients who will experience worsening symptoms and those who will not. This approach builds on previous findings regarding the role of the microbiome in OA.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new biomarkers that help predict the progression of knee osteoarthritis, allowing for earlier and more targeted interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using microbiome patterns as biomarkers for various conditions, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights for knee osteoarthritis as well.
Where this research is happening
-
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Oklahoma City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jeffries, Matlock — Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
- Study coordinator: Jeffries, Matlock
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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.