Understanding how early protein breakdown affects knee injuries and PTOA
Official title: Degradomics of proteolytic mechanisms in post-traumatic osteoarthritis
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11399981 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study how enzymes that cut proteins contribute to early osteoarthritis after ACL injuries, with the goal of finding early warning signals and targets for treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | August 22, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $412,949 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR085047-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399981 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with acute ACL injuries or at risk of PTOA who consent to sample collection and follow-up.
✕Less likely to help
People without ACL injury or PTOA risk, or those not contributing samples or data, may not benefit.
What this research studies
If you’ve had an ACL injury, this project looks at how specific protein-cutting enzymes break down knee cartilage early in the disease. The team will use advanced proteomics to map proteolysis patterns in the joint and identify biomarkers that appear before visible damage. The goal is to uncover mechanisms and potential drug targets that could slow or prevent PTOA in patients after knee injuries. This research could pave the way for earlier diagnosis and new therapies that protect joint health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable earlier detection of PTOA and point toward treatments that protect cartilage after knee injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Proteomics approaches have identified proteolytic patterns in OA, but a comprehensive PTOA-focused degradomics map is still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Apte, Suneel S — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Apte, Suneel S
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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.