Understanding how bone forms and breaks down
Official title: Dynamics of Bone ECM Assembly and Resorption
Funded at University of Missouri Kansas City · NIH-11141206 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work aims to better understand how our bones build and remove their internal structure, which is important for conditions like osteoporosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Missouri Kansas City NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | July 18, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $441,221 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR083438-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11141206 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is not recruiting patients directly but aims to benefit individuals with bone density issues, such as osteoporosis, in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without bone diseases or those seeking immediate treatment options would not directly benefit from this basic science research.
What this research studies
Our bones are constantly rebuilding themselves, a process that can become unbalanced in diseases like osteoporosis, leading to fragile bones. While we know a lot about the cells involved, we don't fully understand how the bone's internal support structure, called the extracellular matrix, is formed and then broken down. This project uses advanced imaging techniques to watch these processes happen in real-time in living cells and animals. By observing how bone-building and bone-removing cells interact with this matrix, we hope to uncover new insights into bone health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of bone diseases and help identify new targets for treatments that strengthen bones and prevent fractures.
How similar studies have gone: While much is known about bone cells, the dynamic observation of bone matrix assembly and resorption in live systems is a relatively novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Missouri Kansas City
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dallas, Sarah L — University of Missouri Kansas City
- Study coordinator: Dallas, Sarah L
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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.