Validating potential rheo-markers in human cartilage using MRI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Validating potential rheo-markers in human cartilage using a multi-scale MRI approach
IRAS ID
268847
Contact name
Brigitte E Scammell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
000, 000
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 31 days
Research summary
Research Summary:
This application is the continuation of a project where previous samples had been collected under the generic ethical approval for the Nottingham Biobank.
Although cartilage degradation is the characteristic feature of osteoarthritis (OA), it is now recognized that the interaction or crosstalk between cartilage and subchondral bone is a central feature of this process. The interface between cartilage and bone is a unique zone, which comprises articular cartilage, below which is calcified cartilage that is anchored into the subchondral bone plate. In OA, there are well described progressive destructive changes in cartilage and subchondral bone that can be investigated using novel MRI techniques being developed in the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre (SPMIC), University of Nottingham (UoN).This study will combine expertise from within the Nottingham BRC, and Functional and Metabolic Imaging for Precision Medicine theme of the UoN Imaging Beacon, to validate potential rheo-markers in cartilage to provide ‘early-discovery’ MRI data in normal and OA joints. Novel MRI approaches will assess the cartilage, chondral-synovial fluid interaction as well as the osteochondral junction under load, mirroring real-life situations. The very short T2 components of the osteochondral junction (which are invisible on conventional MRI) will be assessed using ultra-short echo time (UTE) MR sequences, facilitating investigation of osteochondral integrity and bone-cartilage crosstalk. We will identify and validate these novel rheo-markers in human knee joint tissues at ultra-high field and by detailed histology.
Following on from this work, we intend to translate these approaches to clinical MR systems. Better phenotyping by these means may permit early disease detection which raises the possibility for therapeutic intervention to halt or slow disease development before irreversible OA changes have occurred.
Summary of Results
Due to the timings with covid and elective surgeries being cancelled we did not recruit any participants. In addition, the University had a work from home policy as of the 23rd March 2023 due to the covid outbreak. Also, during that time the grant that was funding the study ended and staff left the University of Nottingham.REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/WM/0312
Date of REC Opinion
11 Nov 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion