Sex differences in aging knees and osteoarthritis
Official title: Sex Dimorphism in Age-Related Knee Osteoarthritis
Funded at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital · NIH-11372258 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study exploring why knee osteoarthritis behaves differently in aging men and women and what biological factors drive these differences.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlestown, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $574,423 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG089455-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372258 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with knee OA or at risk of KOA, especially postmenopausal women and older adults, may benefit from future therapies informed by this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without knee OA or risk factors may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how aging and sex affect knee cartilage and OA progression, using lab models and advanced data analysis. Researchers will study soluble factors and the stiffness of the cartilage matrix to see how they influence cartilage health in males and females as they age. They will blend lab experiments with computational approaches to understand regulatory networks shaped by sex hormones and chromosomes. The work may involve innovative in vitro and in vivo models and data-driven methods to reveal new targets for better knee health in aging people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: The research could identify new ways to prevent or slow knee osteoarthritis, particularly in postmenopausal women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown sex- and age-related differences in OA, with mixed success; this project aims to advance understanding with new models.
Where this research is happening
-
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Charlestown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ambrosio, Fabrisia — Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
- Study coordinator: Ambrosio, Fabrisia
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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.