Metabolomics clues to osteoporosis risk in diverse populations
Official title: Comprehensive Metabolomics Study of Osteoporosis
Funded at Tulane University of Louisiana · NIH-11365802 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study using small molecules in blood samples to understand osteoporosis risk, with a focus on aging, ethnicity, and sex differences.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2017 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $389,039 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AG055373-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365802 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults, especially African American individuals, who are at risk for osteoporosis or have low bone density.
✕Less likely to help
People without signs of bone loss or who are not in the study’s target populations may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will profile metabolites in people at risk for osteoporosis to find markers linked to bone density and fractures. It uses untargeted metabolomics to compare elderly men and women from African American and other diverse backgrounds. The goal is to discover biomarkers and biological pathways that could lead to better prediction, diagnosis, and treatment options for osteoporosis. The research will translate complex metabolite data into insights about why bone weakness happens in different groups.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to better ways to predict who will develop osteoporosis and to tailor prevention or treatment strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Metabolomics approaches have yielded disease-related biomarkers in other conditions, with growing evidence supporting this method for osteoporosis, though human-data in diverse populations is still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Qi — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Qi
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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.