Improving diagnosis of infections in children's bones and joints
Official title: Optimizing the Diagnostic Strategy for Acute Musculoskeletal Infections in Children: Evaluating the Clinical Performance and Comparative Cost of a Noninvasive Diagnostic Technique
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11011449 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new, gentle way to help doctors quickly find out if kids have infections in their muscles or bones by looking at tiny bits of DNA in their blood, so they can get the right treatment faster.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | February 3, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $185,931 |
| NIH project number | 5K23AI171084-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11011449 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who are suspected of having acute musculoskeletal infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions or those outside the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the diagnosis of acute musculoskeletal infections (MSKIs) in children by evaluating a new non-invasive diagnostic technique that analyzes microbial cell-free DNA from blood samples. Currently, traditional methods like blood cultures and invasive biopsies often fail to identify the bacterial cause of these infections, leading to delays in treatment. By leveraging a large database of pediatric hospital encounters, the study aims to compare the effectiveness and cost of this new approach against existing methods. The goal is to provide quicker and more accurate diagnoses, ultimately improving patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to faster and more accurate diagnoses of infections in children, reducing the need for invasive procedures and improving treatment outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in using non-invasive techniques for diagnosing infections, but this specific approach is relatively novel and requires further validation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Searns, Justin Benjamin — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Searns, Justin Benjamin
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.