Genetics of Osteoarthritis: What Makes Some People More Susceptible and How It Progresses
Official title: Genetics of Osteoarthritis Susceptibility, Heterogeneity and Progression
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11401396 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant aims to understand why some people develop osteoarthritis, why it affects people differently, and how it progresses over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | August 22, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $514,493 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR082839-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401396 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with or at risk for osteoarthritis, especially those with a family history or prior joint disease, and populations represented in the MVP data.
✕Less likely to help
People without OA or with OA for whom genetic insights do not change care at this time.
What this research studies
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham will study genetic factors that influence who gets OA, how the disease shows up at different joints, and how it worsens. They will fine-map genetic regions linked to OA and explore sex differences using data from diverse populations, including veterans. The work could inform personalized strategies to reduce OA risk and tailor treatments beyond symptom management. The project leverages large-scale genetic data to uncover mechanisms that could guide future prevention and therapy for OA.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to personalized risk assessment and targeted approaches to prevent or slow OA progression.
How similar studies have gone: Prior genetics studies have identified OA-associated loci, but this project aims to refine and expand understanding, including sex-specific effects.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdonald Donnelly, Merry-Lynn Noelle — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Mcdonald Donnelly, Merry-Lynn Noelle
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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.