Oxidative stress in age-related osteoarthritis
Official title: Oxidative Stress and the Development of Osteoarthritis
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11299495 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looking at whether too much damaging oxygen activity in joint cells causes cartilage breakdown in older adults with osteoarthritis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2012 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $409,075 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG044034-14 |
| Project ID | NIH-11299495 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be older adults with age-related osteoarthritis of the knee or hip or individuals willing to donate joint tissue or cells for research.
✕Less likely to help
People with recent traumatic joint injuries or those seeking immediate symptom relief from current treatments are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic-science-focused project.
What this research studies
This research looks at how an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant proteins called peroxiredoxins affects cartilage cells and promotes age-related osteoarthritis. The team uses human cartilage cells and genetically modified mice to study changes in cell signaling pathways such as JNK, AKT, and NFκB that lead to cell aging and inflammation. They also test whether boosting peroxiredoxin activity in chondrocytes can protect joints from age-related damage. Lab experiments are paired with analysis of human tissue samples to connect the findings to people with osteoarthritis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify new ways to protect cartilage or slow age-related osteoarthritis by targeting oxidative damage and cellular aging.
How similar studies have gone: Prior lab and animal studies have linked oxidative stress and cellular senescence to osteoarthritis and some antioxidant approaches reduced damage in animals, but translation to proven clinical therapies remains limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Loeser, Richard F — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Loeser, Richard F
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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.