Monitoring uric acid levels in sweat to improve gout treatment
Official title: Cutaneous uric acid and metabolite monitoring to improve individual response to pharmaceutical and dietary treatment in patients with gout
Funded at California Institute of Technology · NIH-10642949 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new skin patch that can check your uric acid levels through your sweat, helping you see how your diet affects your gout in real-time, and it’s looking for people to join a 10-week trial to see how well it works.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pasadena, United States) |
| Project start | June 13, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $242,183 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DK132666-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10642949 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults diagnosed with gout who are either currently on urate-lowering therapy or not receiving treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have gout or hyperuricemia may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new method for monitoring uric acid levels in patients with gout using a non-invasive skin patch that detects uric acid in sweat. The goal is to provide patients with real-time feedback on their uric acid levels before and after meals, which may help them make better dietary choices and adhere to their medication regimens. The study will also explore the impact of monitoring additional metabolites and nutrients to enhance patient outcomes. Participants will be involved in a 10-week trial to assess the effectiveness of this monitoring system.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved management of gout through better dietary and medication adherence.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using non-invasive monitoring techniques for metabolic conditions, suggesting potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gao, Wei — California Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Gao, Wei
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Treat-to-Target Urate in Gout: A New Approach for Better Pain and Health
A large clinical trial tests whether aiming for a specific uric acid level in gout patients improves symptoms and health outcomes compared with avoiding symptoms.
-
Translational Genomics in Gout: Linking GWAS Signals to Mechanisms
Aims to understand why some people with high uric acid develop gout by connecting genetic clues to the biology of joint inflammation.
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Genetic clues to gout flares through cell gene activity in blood and joint fluid
Researchers will study how genes turn on or off in immune cells from blood and joint fluid during gout flares to understand why flares happen.
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Uric acid skin sensor to guide gout treatment and diet
A skin patch that measures uric acid in sweat is being tested to help people with gout manage their diet and medications better.
-
Wearable skin patch that tracks uric acid and metabolites for people with gout
A wearable skin patch will measure uric acid and other metabolites around meals to help people with gout make better diet and medication choices.
-
Gout and Kidney Disease: How gout changes as kidney disease gets worse and after kidney transplant
This project follows people with gout as their kidney disease progresses toward dialysis or transplant, using national kidney data to understand how often gout flares happen and how care needs change.
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.