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Evaluation of Noninvasive Muscle Imaging Biomarkers for Knee Osteoarthritis in Older Adults

Award Number: R01AG093616
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2031

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Evaluation of Noninvasive Muscle Imaging Biomarkers for Knee Osteoarthritis in Older Adults - Project Summary Knee osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability among older adults. Older patients suffer from weakness and functional deficits that extend beyond articular cartilage erosion, with degenerative pathology in quadriceps muscles including weakness, atrophy, and fibrosis. Recent reports underscore reductions in quadriceps muscle quality, with poor muscle quality an important predictor of pain trajectory and poor physical function in older adults. Prior studies have not identified the specific deficits in muscle quality, and the identification of specific cellular and acellular source(s) of poor muscle quality would directly lead to new therapeutic targets unique to this muscle phenotype. A critical first step to advance patient care is the development of non-invasive muscle biomarkers to define muscle dysfunction unique to this population. Recent advances in T1 rho magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging have enabled an ability to estimate indices of muscle quality and size, respectively, and offer novel and non-invasive assessments of muscle morphology. The proposed grant is a crucial step to establish potential non-invasive magnetic imaging biomarkers for the identification of altered muscle quality in people with knee osteoarthritis. The overarching objective of the current proposal is to evaluate non-invasive MRI measurements with validated assessment of muscle quality and fiber size obtained from aligned quadriceps biopsies. Further, this proposal will determine the relationship between non-invasive measures of muscle quality to strength and physical performance in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. This critical first step is necessary define non-invasive biomarkers in patients with knee osteoarthritis so that future studies can test new treatments that are specifically targeted to the underlying muscle biology deficits contributing to quadriceps muscle dysfunction. The results of this work will provide critical translational between cellular and acellular effectors of muscle quality to function known to limit quality of life in older persons with knee osteoarthritis.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $666,504 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, THE	500 S LIMESTONE	LEXINGTON	KY	40526	FAYETTE	USA	Aging Research	000	1	1/23/2026	NEW	$666,504
														Subtotal = $666,504

Grand Total All Awards = $666,504

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Evaluation of Noninvasive Muscle Imaging Biomarkers for Knee Osteoarthritis in Older Adults

Award Number: R01AG093616

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2031

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