Investigating hip structure and function in young female athletes
Official title: Hip structure and function in young female athletes
Funded at Boston University (Charles River Campus) · NIH-11112434 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how playing sports might change the hip structure in girls aged 8 to 17, comparing those who play competitive sports with those who don’t, to help us understand how being active affects their bone health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | June 11, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $214,358 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR083148-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11112434 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are girls aged 8 to 17 who participate in competitive sports that are associated with hip risks.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not female or who do not fall within the age range of 8 to 17 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how participation in sports affects the hip structure of young female athletes aged 8 to 17. By comparing girls who play competitive sports known to increase hip issues with those who do not participate in organized sports, the study aims to uncover the relationship between athletic activity and hip development. Participants will undergo MRI scans to assess their hip structure and function, providing valuable insights into how sports may influence bone health in females. The study addresses a significant gap in research, as young females are often underrepresented in studies related to hip pathology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and prevention strategies for hip-related issues in young female athletes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding bone adaptation in male athletes, but this specific focus on young female athletes is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University (Charles River Campus)
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lewis, Cara L — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Lewis, Cara L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
An integrated mobile health program to reduce SAVA and mental health problems among female sex workers in Kenya
A new mobile health program aims to help female sex workers in Kenya avoid substance abuse, violence, HIV, and depression by delivering group therapy, online resources, and a peer discussion space.
-
HIV in Women: How the virus hides and the immune system changes across life stages
This project looks at how HIV behaves differently in people from puberty through menopause, focusing on how hormones like estrogen may affect HIV persistence and immune responses.
-
Mobile health support to boost PrEP and contraception use among young women in Zambia
A mobile health program helps female university students in Zambia learn about and access HIV prevention and contraception.
-
Computational modeling of female hormone balance and drug responses
A new computational model uses patient-like data to predict how metabolic drugs will work in women across their hormonal cycles and different reproductive stages.
-
How PrEP Drugs Affect HIV Risk in Women and Reproductive Health
This project looks at how PrEP medicines work for women, and whether they influence pregnancy-related processes in the uterus.
-
How female eggs throw away most chromosomes during meiosis
A scientist at UC Davis is studying why only a quarter of chromosomes go into the egg during female reproductive cell division and how errors in this process can cause miscarriage or birth defects.
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.