Mapping nerves and connections inside the knee
Neuronal anatomy, connectivity, and phenotypic innervation of the knee joint
Researchers are mapping which nerve types are in the knee and how they connect to help explain knee pain, especially in osteoarthritis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11167001 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will build detailed 3D maps showing where different nerve types and blood vessels run inside the knee. Scientists will use viral tracing in animal models, tissue-clearing with fluorescent markers for 3D visualization, and single-cell plus spatial RNA methods to identify molecular cell types. By linking anatomy, connectivity, and molecular identity, the work aims to clarify how knee nerves signal pain in osteoarthritis and point to specific targets for future treatments. The research is laboratory-based at Baylor College of Medicine and is primarily preclinical.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with knee osteoarthritis who might consider tissue donation or participation in future clinical trials guided by this nerve-mapping work would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate symptom relief or those with pain unrelated to the knee are unlikely to see direct benefit from this basic research now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new, more specific targets for treating knee pain in osteoarthritis.
How similar studies have performed: Similar 3D imaging and single-cell approaches have worked in other organs, but detailed connectivity mapping of the knee is a newer application.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Brendan — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Lee, Brendan
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.