How PTSD and related health problems affect bone healing in Veterans
BCCMA: Foundational Research to Act Upon and Resist Conditions Unfavorable to Bone (FRACTURE CURB): Impacts of PTSD on Fracture Healing
This project looks at whether conditions like PTSD make bones heal more slowly in aging Veterans and whether boosting the bone-building effects of parathyroid hormone can help them recover faster.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11206891 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using laboratory and pre-clinical models that mimic aging, osteoporosis, and stress-related conditions common in Veterans to study how these problems change bone breakdown and repair. They will test approaches to enhance the bone-building actions of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and measure outcomes such as bone density, callus formation, and healing speed. The work brings together multiple VA teams to compare disease models and treatments using consistent methods. Results are intended to identify promising strategies that could later be tested in Veteran patients to prevent fractures or speed fracture recovery.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be aging Veterans with low bone density or a history of PTSD who are at higher risk for fragility fractures.
Not a fit: Young, otherwise healthy people or those whose fractures come from high-impact trauma rather than bone-weakening conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that prevent fragility fractures or help bones heal faster in Veterans with osteoporosis or stress-related conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Anabolic PTH therapies have improved bone density and shown promise for fracture healing in prior studies, but tailoring or enhancing PTH specifically for PTSD-related or Veteran-specific conditions is a newer direction.
Where this research is happening
Charleston, United States
- Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center — Charleston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Larue, Amanda C. — Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Larue, Amanda C.
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 below.