Preventing bone loss after spinal cord injury with denosumab followed by zoledronic acid
Denosumab and sequential zoledronic acid to prevent bone loss and maintain bone mass after spinal cord injury
This project will test whether giving denosumab first and then zoledronic acid can help prevent rapid bone loss in people who recently had a spinal cord injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158585 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This award is funding the planning needed to run a future clinical trial that would give denosumab followed by zoledronic acid to people after an acute spinal cord injury to try to stop severe bone loss. Over the two-year planning period the team will set up clinical sites, create safety monitoring plans, get the investigational drug, develop training and data procedures, and finalize how bone density and blood markers will be measured. If the full trial is approved, you would likely have DXA and CT scans, blood tests for bone resorption markers, and regular safety checks while receiving the medications. The current grant does not yet enroll patients but aims to make a larger, multicenter treatment trial possible.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with a recent (acute) spinal cord injury who are at high risk for rapid bone loss and who meet safety criteria for denosumab and zoledronic acid.
Not a fit: People without spinal cord injury, those with long-standing stable bone loss where changes are unlikely, or those with medical contraindications to anti-resorptive drugs would likely not benefit from joining this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could slow or prevent large losses of leg bone mass after spinal cord injury and reduce fracture risk, helping preserve mobility and access to rehabilitation.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work showed bisphosphonates slowed but did not stop bone loss, while a small trial of denosumab showed promise at preventing bone loss around the knee, so this combined-sequence approach builds on limited but encouraging evidence.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schnitzer, Thomas Jack — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Schnitzer, Thomas Jack
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 below.