Tuesday, January 27, 2026 1/27/2026

Environmental Factors Associated with the Development of Osteoarthritis

Award Number: R01AR081791
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS & MUSCULOSKELETAL & SKIN DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/01/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2027

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Environmental Factors Associated with the Development of Osteoarthritis - PROJECT SUMMARY Hand osteoarthritis is a painful polyarticular disorder that impairs an individual's ability to perform manipulative activities of daily life. Hand osteoarthritis has been the subject of little research and has few therapeutic options. Local inflammation, altered bone structure, and metabolic syndrome are pivotal to the pathogenesis of hand osteoarthritis. Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – synthetically produced grease-resistant chemicals universally detectable in the United States population – can stay in the body for a long time and affect inflammation, bone metabolism, and metabolic factors that contribute to osteoarthritis. PFAS became commercially available in the 1950s. Since then, the prevalence of osteoarthritis has doubled in the United States – a finding that cannot simply be explained by increases in longevity or body mass index. Cross-sectional studies demonstrate that exposure to PFAS may exacerbate osteoarthritis development. While prior research has inspired efforts to reduce the production of certain PFAS, older PFAS persist in the environment, and newer PFAS are entering the global markets and may present their own health risk. Given the ongoing use of PFAS and the scale of contamination, there is an urgent need for longitudinal studies to clarify the relationship between PFAS and osteoarthritis and to identify susceptible populations to inform public health policies and suggest therapeutic approaches. Our interdisciplinary team, which has expertise in osteoarthritis and environmental health, will benefit from the wealth of annually collected data and biospecimens from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, the largest and most comprehensive cohort study of osteoarthritis. Furthermore, we selected a case-cohort sample with radiographic assessments of hand osteoarthritis and measures of systemic bone health, inflammation, and metabolic factors. To achieve our overall goal of testing whether each PFAS and a mixture of PFAS relate to hand osteoarthritis, we will complete 3 aims using environmental mixture modeling. Specifically, we will determine if PFAS increase the risk for hand osteoarthritis incidence (Aim 1) and relate with greater changes in disease burden, articular cartilage, and bone (Aim 2). We will also perform exploratory analyses to assess whether bone health, inflammation, and metabolic factors mediate the relationship between PFAS and osteoarthritis. Furthermore, we will consider sex, age, and obesity as effect modifiers because investigators reported these interactions in cross-sectional studies. The findings from this study will help inform public health policies, identify susceptible populations, and suggest therapeutic targets.


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 = $0 )
2026	2025	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL	55 LAKE AVE N	WORCESTER	MA	01655	WORCESTER	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	3	1/6/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $383,224 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL	55 LAKE AVE N	WORCESTER	MA	01655	WORCESTER	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	001	3	5/28/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$27,657
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL	55 LAKE AVE N	WORCESTER	MA	01655	WORCESTER	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	3	1/16/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$355,567
														Subtotal = $383,224

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $698,506 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL	55 LAKE AVE N	WORCESTER	MA	01655	WORCESTER	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	004	2	8/9/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$24,737
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL	55 LAKE AVE N	WORCESTER	MA	01655	WORCESTER	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	003	2	7/18/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$563,374
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL	55 LAKE AVE N	WORCESTER	MA	01655	WORCESTER	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	001	2	3/13/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$673,769
2024	2023	TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER PARENT, INC.	800 WASHINGTON ST	BOSTON	MA	02111	SUFFOLK	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	1	3/12/2024	NEW	$0
2024	2023	TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER PARENT, INC.	800 WASHINGTON ST	BOSTON	MA	02111	SUFFOLK	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	002	1	7/18/2024	NEW	-$563,374
														Subtotal = $698,506

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $659,439 )
2023	2023	TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER, INC.	800 WASHINGTON ST	BOSTON	MA	02111	SUFFOLK	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	1	1/20/2023	NEW	$659,439
														Subtotal = $659,439

Grand Total All Awards = $1,741,169

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Environmental Factors Associated with the Development of Osteoarthritis

Award Number: R01AR081791

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS & MUSCULOSKELETAL & SKIN DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/01/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2027

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