From knee to brain: a whole-body look at inflammation in knee osteoarthritis

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

This project uses whole-body PET/CT and MRI to create new maps of inflammation in people with knee osteoarthritis. By linking joint problems with brain signals of inflammation, it seeks to understand how peripheral and central processes contribute to chronic pain. The study will enroll about 90 KOA patients and 25 healthy controls, collect genetic information related to TSPO, and examine how inflammation in different tissues relates to pain and function. Participants will undergo imaging, biomarker assessments, and detailed behavioral phenotyping to build a comprehensive picture of inflammation in pain.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• Massachusetts General Hospital
  Boston, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Loggia, Marco Luciano — Massachusetts General Hospital
• Study coordinator: Loggia, Marco Luciano

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

• 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.

  NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11644470

• 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.

  NIH research University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-11516244

• Remote tai chi for knee OA in everyday care

  A nationwide study will test remotely delivered tai chi for people with knee osteoarthritis to see if it helps pain and function when added to usual care.

  NIH research Tufts Medical Center · Boston, United States · NIH-11506893

• Sensory nerves and joint cells talk to each other in knee arthritis

  This grant tests how nerve signals and joint cells interact in knee osteoarthritis, with a focus on CGRP pathways and how they affect pain and joint damage.

  NIH research Wake Forest University Health Sciences · Winston-Salem, United States · NIH-11453379

• Determinants of rapid knee osteoarthritis progression using radiograph features

  A patient-friendly look at how knees with osteoarthritis may progress more quickly, using advanced X-ray measurements to identify who is at higher risk.

  NIH research University of Arizona · Tucson, United States · NIH-11416360

• New ways to study nerve cells linked to knee osteoarthritis pain

  A researcher at a major university is exploring new models to understand how dorsal root ganglion nerves drive knee OA pain, with the aim of finding better ways to relieve pain.

  NIH research University of Cincinnati · Cincinnati, United States · NIH-11414947

About this research

1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.