Gut health and multi-joint osteoarthritis in people and dogs
Official title: Is the gut important in multiple joint osteoarthritis? A multimodal investigation in humans and pet dogs
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11381217 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist team will study whether a leaky gut contributes to pain and worsening of osteoarthritis in people who have OA in multiple joints, using both people and pet dogs for insights.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $626,073 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR080733-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381217 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with multi-joint osteoarthritis and pet dogs with naturally occurring OA may contribute samples or data.
✕Less likely to help
People or dogs without OA or with non-joint-related conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project uses human data and a naturally occurring dog model to explore if increased intestinal permeability is linked to multi-joint OA. Researchers will analyze inflammatory signals and gut-derived biomarkers in people and in dogs with OA to understand shared disease mechanisms. The goal is to identify whether gut health could be a target for slowing OA progression and improving comfort for patients. The study leverages a large human cohort and pet dogs to compare findings across species and uncover pathways that drive joint disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new strategies targeting gut health to reduce OA progression and pain.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have linked gut inflammation and OA markers, but using natural dog models for multi-joint OA is relatively novel and promising.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nelson, Amanda E — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Nelson, Amanda E
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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.