Ultrasound biomarkers to diagnose and predict treatment response for plantar heel pain
Official title: Development of diagnostic and prognostic ultrasound imaging biomarkers for plantar heel pain
Funded at University of Iowa · NIH-11554206 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study will test advanced ultrasound imaging to find biomarkers that help diagnose plantar heel pain and predict who will respond to targeted treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,027,765 |
| NIH project number | 4R33AT012275-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11554206 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older with plantar fasciitis, those with Achilles tendinopathy, and pain-free controls.
✕Less likely to help
People without foot pain or those unlikely to benefit from imaging-guided biomarkers may not experience direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses cutting-edge ultrasound techniques to measure biochemical, biomechanical, and structural properties of myofascial pain in the foot, focusing on plantar fasciitis as a model. Researchers will compare people with plantar fasciitis, those with Achilles tendinopathy, and healthy controls to identify a imaging biosignature that pinpoints abnormal myofascial tissue. In the R61 phase, they aim to develop a diagnostic biomarker that locates and rates the severity of affected tissue. In the R33 phase, they plan to create a predictive biosignature to identify individuals most likely to respond to a targeted treatment approach. The study adopts cross-sectional designs and will use quantitative imaging to lay the groundwork for personalized musculoskeletal pain management.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive faster, more accurate diagnoses and more personalized treatments for plantar heel pain.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in musculoskeletal pain has shown promise for imaging biomarkers, but this project extends that work with a focused biosignature for myofascial tissue.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Iowa
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chimenti, Ruth Louise Porter — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Chimenti, Ruth Louise Porter
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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.