Understanding knee aging and osteoarthritis through imaging
Official title: Healthy knee aging vs. osteoarthritis in three large diverse cohorts: What is the clinical relevance of structural changes seen on radiographs?
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-10096225 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how healthy knees age compared to knees with osteoarthritis, to help figure out who might be at risk for worsening knee problems, and it’s for anyone interested in understanding more about knee health and pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | September 27, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2021 |
| Award (this year) | $2,155,279 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AR078187-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10096225 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults over 21 years old who are experiencing knee pain or have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with no knee pain or those who do not have any risk factors for osteoarthritis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the differences between healthy knee aging and osteoarthritis by analyzing structural changes seen in knee radiographs. It aims to identify which individuals are at the highest risk for rapid progression of osteoarthritis, a condition that currently lacks preventive treatments. By pooling data from three large and diverse cohorts, the study will evaluate how changes in joint space width relate to pain and functional outcomes, considering factors like age, sex, and race. This comprehensive approach seeks to fill critical knowledge gaps in the understanding of knee health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better identification of individuals at risk for osteoarthritis, potentially guiding preventive strategies and improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using imaging techniques to assess joint health, making this approach promising for understanding osteoarthritis.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kwoh, C Kent — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Kwoh, C Kent
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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.