FoxO factors and aging joints: a path toward healthier cartilage
Official title: FoxO transcription factors in joint aging and osteoarthritis pathogenesis
Funded at Scripps Research Institute, the · NIH-11327241 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new NIH project looks at how FoxO proteins influence aging cartilage to understand and possibly slow osteoarthritis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2018 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $573,011 |
| NIH project number | 5R37AG059418-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11327241 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with advancing joint aging or early osteoarthritis whose cartilage biology could be studied through donated tissue or cells.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without OA or cartilage-related issues may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This project studies how aging affects cartilage by focusing on FoxO transcription factors, which help cells manage stress and cleaning up damaged components. Researchers will use human cartilage cells and tissue samples to see how FoxO levels change with age and OA, and how these changes affect cell survival and cartilage building blocks. They will test what controls FoxO activity and how altering FoxO expression might protect cartilage in aging joints. The work combines lab experiments with human tissue to connect aging biology to osteoarthritis pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify new ways to preserve cartilage and delay OA in aging individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests FoxO factors influence aging-related cartilage health, supporting a translational potential for human OA.
Where this research is happening
-
Scripps Research Institute, the
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lotz, Martin K — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Lotz, Martin K
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Viral-like DNA elements and joint aging in osteoarthritis
This project looks at whether viral-like DNA inside joint cells causes those cells to age and contribute to osteoarthritis in adults.
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Investigating how FoxO transcription factors affect joint aging and osteoarthritis.
This study is looking at how certain proteins called FoxO might affect joint health as we age and how they relate to osteoarthritis, with the hope of finding new ways to help keep our joints healthy as we get older.
-
Investigating how aging affects joint health and osteoarthritis development
This study is looking at how getting older and stress on our cells might lead to osteoarthritis, a common joint problem, and aims to find new ways to help treat it by understanding how changes in our joint cells can cause inflammation and joint damage.
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This study is looking at how the lymphatic system in the joints of older adults might play a role in osteoarthritis, with the hope of finding new ways to improve joint health and reduce pain for those living with this condition.
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Investigating how a specific enzyme affects joint aging and osteoarthritis.
This study is looking at how a specific enzyme called SENP6 affects the aging of cartilage in our joints and contributes to osteoarthritis, with the goal of finding new ways to prevent or treat this condition.
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Understanding knee aging and osteoarthritis through imaging
This study is looking at how healthy knees age compared to knees with osteoarthritis, to help figure out who might be at risk for worsening knee problems, and it’s for anyone interested in understanding more about knee health and pain.
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.