New Ways to Predict Bone Weakness
Official title: Novel Molecular Biomarkers of Bone Microarchitecture
Funded at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged · NIH-11074139 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for new signals in your blood that can tell us if your bones are getting weaker as you age, even before a fracture happens.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 1991 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $636,087 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR041398-30 |
| Project ID | NIH-11074139 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research focuses on understanding age-related bone changes in older adults, particularly those participating in long-term health studies like the Framingham Study.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing age-related bone loss or who are not part of the specific study cohort may not directly benefit from this particular research.
What this research studies
Current bone density tests might not always catch early signs of bone weakening. This project uses advanced imaging, called HR-pQCT scans, to get a detailed look at bone structure in older adults. We are also looking at specific markers in blood plasma and genetic changes to see how they relate to changes in bone strength over time. The goal is to find new ways to predict who is at risk for fractures and to discover new targets for future bone-strengthening medications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier identification of individuals at high risk for fractures and help develop new treatments to prevent bone loss.
How similar studies have gone: While DXA is standard, this project explores novel molecular biomarkers and advanced imaging in a longitudinal cohort, which is a less common approach for predicting bone microarchitecture deterioration.
Where this research is happening
-
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kiel, Douglas P. — Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged
- Study coordinator: Kiel, Douglas P.
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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.