Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
Official title: Understanding the Roles of Synovitis, Knee-Adjacent Obesity and Sarcopenia in Pain Phenotypes and Structural Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis - An Analysis of the Entire Osteoarthritis Initiative
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11644470 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $620,656 |
| NIH project number | 1R56AR085666-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11644470 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older with knee osteoarthritis or related symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
People without knee OA or not using MRI data for knee assessment may not benefit.
What this research studies
If funded, researchers will analyze MRI data and other health information to understand how obesity, inflammation, and muscle loss interact to shape pain and knee joint damage in adults with knee OA. They will use machine learning on MRI scans to quantify risk factors and track how weight changes and other health factors influence progression over time. The goal is to identify targets for simpler, more personalized ways to manage pain and slow joint damage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of risk factors could lead to personalized strategies to reduce pain and slow knee OA progression.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has shown links between obesity, inflammation, muscle loss, and OA progression, but the combined effects are still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Link, Thomas M — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Link, Thomas M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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A mind-body program to help knee OA with obesity and depression
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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.
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A nationwide study will test remotely delivered tai chi for people with knee osteoarthritis to see if it helps pain and function when added to usual care.
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This grant tests how nerve signals and joint cells interact in knee osteoarthritis, with a focus on CGRP pathways and how they affect pain and joint damage.
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From knee to brain: a whole-body look at inflammation in knee osteoarthritis
Aims to map inflammation across the body and brain in people with knee osteoarthritis using advanced imaging to help explain and improve pain and treatment.
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Determinants of rapid knee osteoarthritis progression using radiograph features
A patient-friendly look at how knees with osteoarthritis may progress more quickly, using advanced X-ray measurements to identify who is at higher risk.
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.