# Mentoring Biomechanics Research in Osteoarthritis

> **NIH NIH K24** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2020 · $179,774

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ ABSTRACT
This is a
resubmission
for a Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24). The applicant,
Dr. Richard Souza, is a clinician-scientist, Associate Professor in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
and the University of California, San Francisco. Throughout his career, Dr. Souza has built upon his clinical
background through detailed and comprehensive studies on the influence of loading mechanics on knee and
hip osteoarthritis (OA). These studies have used biomechanical methods such as motion capture systems, and
strength assessment through dynamometry, and have characterized disease status and progression using
advanced quantitative MRI metrics including T1ρ and T2 relaxation time mapping of knee and hip cartilage and
semi-quantitative lesion scoring. Combining his background in musculoskeletal biomechanics with the world-
renowned research team in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at UCSF, Dr. Souza has
been able to uncover key biomechanical variables that contribute to the earliest changes in the OA process.
These efforts have resulted in a recently completed R01 on Joint Contact Mechanics in Knee OA, and a
recently funded MPI R01 on hip OA progression. Understanding the predictive capability of lower extremity
joint biomechanics to identify disease progression has been the driving force of Dr. Souza’s work.
Furthermore, Dr. Souza is currently a Co-Investigator on a study evaluating the influence of weight changes on
knee OA progression (PI: Link), and has also recently completed a Center of Research Translation grant
(MPIs: Majumdar & Lane) that provided the key preliminary data for the funded R01 project of hip OA
progression. These activities and projects have led to a broad multidisciplinary team focused on advancing our
understanding of OA in patient oriented research.
The current application requests funding (50% salary
support) for 5 years to support the protected time necessary to conduct the proposed patient oriented research
and to expand opportunities for mentoring within the UCSF community.
 This protected time will allow Dr.
Souza to continue to lead a productive research group and maintain minimal teaching and administrative
responsibility at the Departmental and University levels. Dr. Souza will also obtain additional training in
advanced MR and PET MR analysis and enable participation in the Training in Clinical Research (TICR)
program. There are plentiful opportunities to expand the work Dr. Souza has begun, and extremely high
potential for clinical break-through in this important area of clinical research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9889031
- **Project number:** 5K24AR072133-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Richard Brian Souza
- **Activity code:** K24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $179,774
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-04-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9889031

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9889031, Mentoring Biomechanics Research in Osteoarthritis (5K24AR072133-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9889031. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*