How alcohol changes bone repair in men and women
Official title: Effects of alcohol on bone remodeling balance in male and female non-human primates and humans
Funded at Oregon State University · NIH-11195662 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how drinking alcohol changes the way bones break down and rebuild in men and women using both monkey models and human bone samples.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Corvallis, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $74,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AA032072-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11195662 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (men and women), especially middle-aged or older people with a history of heavy alcohol use or alcohol use disorder who are willing to provide clinical information or bone samples, would be the best fit.
✕Less likely to help
Young people without a history of alcohol use, pregnant individuals, or those unwilling to provide samples are unlikely to benefit from participation.
What this research studies
If you take part, researchers will compare bones from rhesus macaques that drink alcohol with bone tissue or samples from men and women. They will measure both bone amount (like density) and bone quality, including how bone cells turnover and how microdamage is repaired at sites such as the iliac crest and tibia. The work includes both males and females to spot sex differences. Findings in monkeys will be directly compared to human samples to better understand why alcohol raises fracture risk beyond what bone density tests predict.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could clarify why heavy drinking raises fracture risk and help target better prevention or treatment strategies for people who drink heavily.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in rhesus macaques have shown alcohol reduces bone turnover and repair, but direct comparisons to human bone quality are limited, so this work builds on animal findings with novel human comparisons.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon State University
Corvallis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Iwaniec, Urszula T — Oregon State University
- Study coordinator: Iwaniec, Urszula T
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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.