Understanding Bone Weakening After a Fracture

Systemic Bone Loss Following Fracture in Humans

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · NIH-11099880

This project looks at how a broken arm might affect bone strength throughout the body in both younger and older adults.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO (nih funded)
Locations1 site (SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11099880 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

When you break a bone, it might not just be that one spot that's affected; your entire skeleton could experience some bone loss. We want to understand how much bone is lost and how long it takes for bones to recover after a humerus (upper arm) fracture. We will use advanced imaging techniques to see these changes in bone density and structure. Our goal is to find out if older individuals experience more severe or longer-lasting bone loss compared to younger people after a fracture.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this work are human patients between 20-40 years old or 60-80 years old who have recently experienced a humerus fracture.

Not a fit: Patients who have not experienced a recent humerus fracture or who fall outside the specified age ranges may not directly benefit from this particular research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent future fractures by understanding and addressing widespread bone weakening after an initial break.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies in mice have shown a systemic bone loss response after fracture, but this phenomenon has not yet been thoroughly investigated in humans.

Where this research is happening

SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.