Understanding how DNA damage and aging contribute to osteoarthritis
Official title: Role of DNA damage and cellular senescence in osteoarthritis pathophysiology
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11077817 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how damage to DNA and aging cells in your joints might lead to osteoarthritis, especially as we get older, and it aims to find ways to fix this damage and improve treatments for the condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $634,169 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG081734-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11077817 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing symptoms of osteoarthritis or those at risk due to age-related factors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger and do not have any signs of osteoarthritis or related joint issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of DNA damage and cellular aging in the development of osteoarthritis (OA), a common joint condition that worsens with age. It focuses on how senescent cells in joint tissues contribute to OA and aims to identify the triggers that lead to cellular senescence over decades. The study employs various methodologies, including assays to measure DNA damage in joint cells from both young and older donors, and explores potential treatments that could enhance DNA repair mechanisms. By understanding these processes, the research seeks to uncover new therapeutic targets for OA.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that slow down or prevent the progression of osteoarthritis in aging populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of DNA damage in aging and related diseases, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Diekman, Brian O — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Diekman, Brian O
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
Identifying OA subtypes and early warning signs before joint damage
This grant asks researchers to find early, invisible clues of osteoarthritis subtypes so we can target treatments before joints are damaged.
-
Digital biomarkers to guide personalized rehab after ACL injury
Aims to use wearable sensors and phone videos to predict early osteoarthritis risk after ACL surgery so rehabilitation can be tailored to each patient.
-
Aberrant mechano-oxygen coupling linked to zinc-rich mineralization in osteoarthritis
Aims to understand how abnormal joint forces affect cartilage and bone, causing zinc-rich mineral deposits and harmful blood vessel growth in osteoarthritis.
-
Notch signaling in TMJ osteoarthritis: uncovering mechanisms and new targets
Researchers are studying how Notch signaling affects TMJ osteoarthritis to identify new ways to protect and repair the jaw joint.
-
Nanoparticles delivering an sPLA2 blocker for knee osteoarthritis
This project uses tiny, drug-filled nanoparticles to deliver an sPLA2-blocking medicine into the knee to reduce inflammation and slow knee osteoarthritis in people with painful knee OA.
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.