New ways to help fractures heal faster and reduce pain
Official title: "Novel therapeutic approaches to improve fracture healing while reducing pain behavior"
Funded at Rlr VA Medical Center · NIH-11065459 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for better ways to help veterans heal from fractures and manage their pain without relying on strong medications, by testing new treatments that could make recovery easier and more comfortable.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rlr VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX003552-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11065459 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are veterans who have experienced fractures and are dealing with associated pain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have fractures or are not experiencing pain related to fractures may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving the healing process of fractures while also addressing the pain that often accompanies these injuries, particularly in veterans. It explores innovative therapies that aim to enhance bone repair and reduce the reliance on traditional pain medications, such as opioids and NSAIDs, which can have harmful side effects. By investigating the role of specific biological pathways and agents, the research seeks to find effective treatments that can alleviate both pain and promote healing. Patients may be involved in trials that test these new therapeutic approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for fracture healing and pain management, improving the quality of life for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in developing new pain management strategies and enhancing fracture healing, indicating that this approach could yield significant advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
Rlr VA Medical Center
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kacena, Melissa a — Rlr VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Kacena, Melissa a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Adenosine-based help to speed up bone fracture healing in older adults
A biomaterial-based approach delivers adenosine locally to fractures to speed healing in aging bones.
-
Role of Schwann Cell Precursors in Fracture Healing
This NIH grant explores how a specific nerve-support cell type called Schwann cell precursors may influence bone healing and pain after fractures, using mouse models to map how these cells behave during healing.
-
Longitudinal imaging to predict bone fracture healing using light-based tech
Aims to use safe light-based imaging over time to see how healing bones in people with fractures progress and whether early signals predict problems.
-
Rejuvenating B cells to help older people heal broken bones
Aims to boost aged B cells to improve how bone heals after fractures in older patients.
-
Intermittent Fasting to Boost Fracture Healing in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
A study tests whether intermittent fasting can improve bone healing in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes by changing the gut microbiome.
-
Next-Generation MRI to Predict Bone Healing Using Virtual Testing
A new MRI-based method uses advanced imaging and computer models to predict how well broken bones are healing, starting with shinbone (tibial) fractures.
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.