Understanding why sex differences affect advanced knee osteoarthritis pain
Official title: Mechanisms underlying sex differences in emergence of advanced osteoarthritis pain
Funded at University of New England · NIH-11372980 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying why men and women experience osteoarthritis pain differently, focusing on how pain changes from mid-stage to advanced stages and how biology in nerves may drive these differences.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New England NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Biddeford, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $142,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM153601-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372980 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with osteoarthritis pain who may have or develop persistent pain that is disproportionate to joint damage, with a focus on understanding sex-specific differences in pain mechanisms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose OA pain is solely driven by non-neural factors or who do not exhibit the pain phenotypes studied may have limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a mouse model to explore how pain from knee osteoarthritis progresses from pain during movement to persistent pain at rest. It looks at nerve changes in the joint and nearby muscle, and whether these changes occur differently in female mice compared with males. By examining nerve growth and nerve injury, the study aims to explain why women may experience more severe pain at lower levels of joint damage. Findings could inform future therapies that target nerve mechanisms to relieve OA pain for both sexes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that specifically address nerve-related pain pathways in OA, potentially improving relief for patients who do not respond to current therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in OA pain and nerve remodeling in animal models has shown promising links between nerve growth and pain, supporting the potential value of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New England
Biddeford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: King, Tamara E — University of New England
- Study coordinator: King, Tamara E
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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.