Understanding How Idiopathic Scoliosis Develops
Official title: Developmental Mechanisms of Human Idiopathic Scoliosis
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11121809 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to uncover the root causes of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, a spinal twisting condition affecting many children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2016 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,285,873 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HD084387-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11121809 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is relevant to children and adolescents affected by idiopathic scoliosis, particularly those with a genetic predisposition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with scoliosis caused by known conditions other than idiopathic scoliosis may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a common spinal condition that can lead to disfigurement and pain, especially in girls, but its exact causes are not well understood. This program brings together experts to find the genetic factors that contribute to AIS in humans. Researchers are also creating new animal models, like zebrafish, to better understand how the disease starts and progresses. By combining human genetic discoveries with studies in these models, we hope to pinpoint the earliest changes in the spine that lead to scoliosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat adolescent idiopathic scoliosis more effectively, moving beyond current symptomatic treatments.
How similar studies have gone: While genetic contributions to AIS are known, this program is innovative in its collaborative approach to unbiased gene discovery and the development of new animal models.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wise, Carol a — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Wise, Carol a
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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.