How genes affect osteoarthritis and recovery after hip or knee replacement
Official title: Genetics of Osteoarthritis and Joint Replacement Recovery: Key to Precision Rehabilitation
Funded at Birmingham VA Medical Center · NIH-11189651 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how people’s genes relate to osteoarthritis and how well Veterans recover after hip or knee replacement.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Birmingham VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX002745-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11189651 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans with osteoarthritis who are planning or have had total hip or total knee replacement and who are willing to share medical records and genetic information.
✕Less likely to help
People without osteoarthritis or those not undergoing joint replacement are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
You would be part of research using health records and genetic data from Veterans to link specific gene differences with osteoarthritis and recovery after total hip or knee replacement. The team compares results across people of different ancestries to find genetic regions tied to worse or better outcomes. They combine large datasets like the Million Veteran Program and electronic medical records to study symptoms, function, and rehabilitation results before and after surgery. The goal is to use those genetic clues to guide more personalized rehab plans for Veterans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help tailor rehabilitation after joint replacement so patients recover faster and have better daily function.
How similar studies have gone: Genetic risk factors for osteoarthritis have been identified before, but using genetics to guide rehabilitation after joint replacement is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Birmingham VA Medical Center
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdonald Donnelly, Merry-Lynn Noelle — Birmingham VA Medical Center
- 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.