NOD/RIPK2 pathway's role in osteoarthritis risk

Contribution of the NOD/RIPK2 signaling pathway to osteoarthritis susceptibility

NIH-funded research Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · NIH-11299539

Researchers are looking at whether higher activity of the NOD/RIPK2 cell signaling pathway makes some people more likely to develop osteoarthritis.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUtah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Salt Lake City, United States)
Project IDNIH-11299539 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

From a patient point of view, the team is studying families with inherited osteoarthritis to find gene changes in the NOD/RIPK2 pathway. They test those genetic changes in laboratory systems and in mice that were edited to carry a human-linked RIPK2 variant to see how joints respond to injury and aging. The work compares joint tissue responses, inflammation, and cartilage breakdown across models to spot the processes that make joints vulnerable. Findings will be used to point toward molecular targets that could be tested for future treatments to slow or prevent osteoarthritis.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are people from families with a strong inherited or early-onset history of osteoarthritis who may be willing to provide genetic information or samples.

Not a fit: People whose osteoarthritis is purely age- or wear-related with no family history, or those seeking an immediate therapy, are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic genetic and animal-model research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify targets for drugs that slow or prevent osteoarthritis progression.

How similar studies have performed: Previous work has linked genetic variants to OA risk and the RIPK2 variant causes OA-like changes in mice, but translating these findings into human treatments is still new.

Where this research is happening

Salt Lake City, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.