How joints respond to stress as we age and in osteoarthritis

Imaging of Joint Response to Physiological Stress with Age, Sex and in Osteoarthritis

NIH-funded research Stanford University · NIH-11045792

This study is looking at how osteoarthritis affects your joints and how they respond to everyday activities, especially as you get older, using special imaging techniques to find early signs of the condition before serious damage happens.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStanford University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stanford, United States)
Project IDNIH-11045792 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how osteoarthritis (OA) affects joint function and tissue response to everyday physical stress, particularly focusing on the role of age. Using advanced imaging techniques like PET-MRI, the study aims to identify early markers of OA by evaluating changes in bone metabolism and joint loading. The goal is to develop a novel imaging 'stress test' that can detect OA at an early stage, potentially before irreversible damage occurs. This approach seeks to improve our understanding of how aging influences joint health and response to physical activity.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include older adults experiencing joint pain or those at risk for developing osteoarthritis.

Not a fit: Patients with advanced osteoarthritis or those who do not experience joint pain may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier detection and better management of osteoarthritis, improving quality of life for patients.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in using advanced imaging techniques to assess joint health, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

Stanford, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.