Spine inflammation in psoriatic arthritis
Official title: Characterization of Spinal Pathology in Axial Psoriatic Arthritis
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11240346 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We will use a new total-body PET/CT scan with an FDG tracer to find and measure spinal inflammation in people with psoriatic arthritis that affects the spine.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | December 5, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $184,748 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR085314-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11240346 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with confirmed psoriatic arthritis who have back pain or suspected axial (spine) involvement are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without psoriatic arthritis, those whose disease is limited to peripheral joints, or anyone unable to undergo PET/CT (for example, pregnant individuals) are unlikely to benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would receive a total-body PET/CT scan using an FDG glucose tracer to image inflammation in the spine and nearby tendon/ligament attachments (entheses). The research team will compare these PET images with standard imaging like MRI and X-ray and with your symptoms to locate inflammation that current scans may miss. The total-body PET/CT system is faster and can use lower tracer doses than older PET systems. Researchers aim to produce imaging biomarkers that reflect the total spinal inflammatory burden and could help guide diagnosis and future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnosis of spinal psoriatic arthritis and help tailor treatments for people with spine involvement.
How similar studies have gone: Early pilot work has shown total-body PET/CT can visualize spinal enthesitis in psoriatic arthritis, but applying this approach more widely is still novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chaudhari, Abhijit J — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Chaudhari, Abhijit J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding the causes of ongoing joint pain in people with psoriatic arthritis
This study is looking at what causes ongoing joint pain in people with psoriatic arthritis, using special imaging techniques to better understand both the physical and emotional aspects of pain, with the goal of finding better ways to help manage it.
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Understanding spinal inflammation in axial psoriatic arthritis
This study is looking at how inflammation affects the spine in people with axial psoriatic arthritis, using special imaging techniques to get a clearer picture of what's happening, which could help doctors diagnose and treat this condition better.
-
Understanding how different traits and genes affect treatment responses in psoriatic arthritis
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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.