U19AG076471

Novel Insights into Osteoarthritis, Pain, and Function: MOST4 - Overall Abstract

The Multicenter Osteoarthritis (MOST) study has been a major source of new knowledge about the course of OA and factors that affect it, having published over 180 articles. These articles range from studies of pain and pain sensitization to investigations of biomechanics, inquiries into structural joint pathology as visualized by MRI, and studies of decline in function, buckling, and falls, among others.

The initial cohort enrolled 3026 participants with or at risk of knee OA. A new cohort consisting of 1525 subjects was recruited at the last cycle (MOST3), who were slightly younger and unlikely to have advanced disease. In this next cycle of MOST (MOST4), we will recruit an additional 150 participants from underrepresented minority groups, resulting in a total projected sample size of 2293.

In addition to its scientific output, the study has been remarkable in recruiting and encouraging talented young investigators to take on career-defining investigations within MOST. It has served as the basis for 31 career development awards. Our overall goal is to advance our understanding of OA and its consequences to open doors to new treatment approaches, including stratified approaches to treatments.

We will use an integrated approach in the next cycle of MOST (MOST4) overseen by an administrative core. This approach involves a clinical data collection and management core, analysis core, and imaging core. We will also have guidance from an observational safety monitoring board and input from a community advisory board. This will allow us to efficiently address key knowledge gaps through the conduct of three projects.

Our specific aims are to:

1. Evaluate impaired exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) in knee OA, evaluate the relation of nervous system alterations to EIH, and determine the impact of EIH on pain, function, physical activity, and fear-avoidance related to exercise (Project 1).

2. Carry out proteomics analysis of synovial fluid to determine networks of proteins associated with generalized vs. localized OA, pain, and disease progression (Project 2).

3. Differentiate types of calcium crystals deposited in the joint and, for each of them, understand the clinical and structural consequences of crystal deposition (Project 3).

4. Take advantage of comprehensive longitudinal data already collected in MOST to address a wide range of questions related to OA and its impact on outcomes.

5. Bring a multidisciplinary approach to bear on this complex disease and offer career development opportunities to investigators, including pilot project grants in this understudied condition.

MOST4 will introduce new approaches to understanding disease and will continue to comprehensively assess pain, structural, and functional outcomes. This will allow the examination of the specific effects of the factors proposed in the projects and other risk factors. The work conducted in MOST4 will produce new actionable insights regarding pain, structural deterioration, and function loss in knee OA.

Trustees Of Boston University

TO ENCOURAGE BIOMEDICAL, SOCIAL, AND BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING DIRECTED TOWARD GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE AGING PROCESS AND THE DISEASES, SPECIAL PROBLEMS, AND NEEDS OF PEOPLE AS THEY AGE. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING HAS ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS TO PURSUE THESE GOALS. THE DIVISION OF AGING BIOLOGY EMPHASIZES UNDERSTANDING THE BASIC BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES OF AGING. THE DIVISION OF GERIATRICS AND CLINICAL GERONTOLOGY SUPPORTS RESEARCH TO IMPROVE THE ABILITIES OF HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS TO RESPOND TO THE DISEASES AND OTHER CLINICAL PROBLEMS OF OLDER PEOPLE. THE DIVISION OF BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL RESEARCH SUPPORTS RESEARCH THAT WILL LEAD TO GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT AFFECT BOTH THE PROCESS OF GROWING OLD AND THE PLACE OF OLDER PEOPLE IN SOCIETY. THE DIVISION OF NEUROSCIENCE FOSTERS RESEARCH CONCERNED WITH THE AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE RELATED SENSORY, PERCEPTUAL, AND COGNITIVE PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH AGING AND HAS A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM: TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE SBIR PROGRAM, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.866 - Aging Research

National Institute on Aging (NIA) [HHS - NIH]

Massachusetts United States

State-Wide

Complex Integrated Multi-Component Projects in Aging Research (U19 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-19-374)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 158% from $11,514,044 to $29,679,594.