# Prevention of PTOA via regulation of the cytomechanics of chondrocytes

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE · 2023 · $343,796

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Traumatic injuries in human joints can cause cartilage degeneration and lead to post-traumatic osteoarthritis.
Few techniques are now available in practice to prevent the cartilage from degeneration after the joint injuries.
Our research discovered that statins, a class of drugs used by 40 million US people to control the cholesterol
levels, can effectively protect the cartilage from various OA-inducing factors. We found that statins can directly
act on the cartilage cells and prevent them from degrading the cartilage matrix. In this project, we will
determine the efficacy and mechanism of statins for the prevention of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. First, using
a retrospective cohort study, we will determine the correlation between statin use and OA occurrence among
the Delaware population. Second, using in vitro cell/tissue culture models, we will identify the cartilage-
protective mechanisms of statin. Third, we will test the efficacy of statin for PTOA prevention using animal
models. Outcome of this project can provide us justifications for the clinical trials of statin application on the
patients with joint injuries. The long-term goal of this project is to pursuit an FDA approval for the repurpose of
statins in joint treatment and PTOA prevention. If this project is successful, it will immediately increase the
prescription adherence of 40 million current statin users, especially those at a high risk of osteoarthritis
occurrence with a joint injury history.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10470892
- **Project number:** 5R01AR074472-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
- **Principal Investigator:** X. Lucas Lu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $343,796
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10470892

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10470892, Prevention of PTOA via regulation of the cytomechanics of chondrocytes (5R01AR074472-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10470892. Licensed CC0.

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