Metabolite biomarkers to spot and classify osteoarthritis early
Official title: Metabolomic Profiling to Identify Candidate Biomarker Profiles and Molecular Endotypes for Osteoarthritis
Funded at Montana State University - Bozeman · NIH-11145222 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looks at whether patterns of small molecules in joint fluid and blood can spot and classify osteoarthritis earlier in people with joint pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Montana State University - Bozeman NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bozeman, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $431,753 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR081489-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11145222 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with suspected or diagnosed knee or hip osteoarthritis who are willing to provide blood and, when clinically appropriate, joint (synovial) fluid samples.
✕Less likely to help
People without osteoarthritis, those with other inflammatory joint diseases, or anyone unwilling or unable to provide blood or joint fluid samples are unlikely to benefit from participation.
What this research studies
Researchers will collect synovial (joint) fluid and blood plasma from people with different degrees of osteoarthritis and analyze small-molecule (metabolite) patterns using advanced metabolomics techniques. They will compare metabolite profiles to clinical measures and imaging to find panels that track disease grade and distinct molecular subtypes (endotypes). The goal is to identify signatures that reveal early-stage OA or different biological forms of the disease. These findings would be used to guide future tests that could be done from a blood draw or joint sample.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could enable earlier diagnosis and more personalized treatment or monitoring for people with osteoarthritis.
How similar studies have gone: Metabolomics for osteoarthritis is a promising and active area of research with some supportive association studies, but no metabolite panel has yet been validated for routine clinical use.
Where this research is happening
-
Montana State University - Bozeman
Bozeman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: June, Ronald Kent — Montana State University - Bozeman
- Study coordinator: June, Ronald Kent
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
Identifying OA subtypes and early warning signs before joint damage
This grant asks researchers to find early, invisible clues of osteoarthritis subtypes so we can target treatments before joints are damaged.
-
Digital biomarkers to guide personalized rehab after ACL injury
Aims to use wearable sensors and phone videos to predict early osteoarthritis risk after ACL surgery so rehabilitation can be tailored to each patient.
-
Aberrant mechano-oxygen coupling linked to zinc-rich mineralization in osteoarthritis
Aims to understand how abnormal joint forces affect cartilage and bone, causing zinc-rich mineral deposits and harmful blood vessel growth in osteoarthritis.
-
Notch signaling in TMJ osteoarthritis: uncovering mechanisms and new targets
Researchers are studying how Notch signaling affects TMJ osteoarthritis to identify new ways to protect and repair the jaw joint.
-
Nanoparticles delivering an sPLA2 blocker for knee osteoarthritis
This project uses tiny, drug-filled nanoparticles to deliver an sPLA2-blocking medicine into the knee to reduce inflammation and slow knee osteoarthritis in people with painful knee OA.
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.