Are you living with osteoarthritis?
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientists want to find new ways to diagnose and treat OA.
You can help. Join our study.
OMRF physician-scientist Dr. Matlock Jeffries leads a team of researchers working to improve the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment landscape for people with OA.
Why study OA?
Osteoarthritis affects more than half of Americans aged 65 and over. It’s the most common cause of disability in the U.S., leading to severely diminished physical activity, quality of life and overall health. Despite OA’s substantial impact, no medications can slow or stop its progression, and physicians have no tests to predict its development or progression.
Unlike other forms of arthritis, scientists have found few specific genetic associations in OA. Dr. Jeffries is investigating the non-genetic, environmental factors that play the biggest role in the development and progression of the disease to pave the way for new diagnostics and medications. To do that, he needs research volunteers living with early to moderate OA.
Osteoarthritis Research Center of Excellence
The clinic is part of OMRF’s Rheumatology Research Center of Excellence, which treats autoimmune diseases like lupus, Sjögren’s and rheumatoid arthritis. Also within the research center is the Oklahoma Cohort of Rheumatic Diseases, a collection of tens of thousands of blood, urine, saliva and tissue samples donated by patients since 2001.
Jeffries’ lab investigates OA risk factors. He is particularly interested in connections between OA and our microbiome – the community of microorganisms like bacteria, fungi and viruses that live in our bodies and especially within our gut. Jeffries’ lab has shown that microbiome transplantation in mice can significantly improve cartilage healing.
The new clinic will build upon the cohort of samples already provided by Jeffries’ patients.
OA Studies at OMRF
The SOONER Study Cohort
Cohort volunteers will undergo a screening process and, once enrolled, donate a microbiome and blood sample and get x-rays every six months at OMRF in Oklahoma City.
ARPA-H NITRO Study
This study will test a revolutionary one-injection-per-year treatment for knee osteoarthritis developed by our colleagues at Washington University. We are not yet enrolling for this study, as the injection is still being finalized. However, we encourage interested patients to join our SOONER Cohort. When the NITRO study is ready, the first enrollment spots will be offered to SOONER participants since we will have previous xrays, clinical information, and blood samples on these individuals.
Who can participate?
People of any age, gender or ethnicity with early to moderate OA of the knee, hand or hip qualify. OMRF will keep your information confidential and compensate you for your time.
Start Today
Contact us at 405-271-7745, email clinic@omrf.org or provide your contact information and a study coordinator will contact you soon:
IRB FWA#00000114. IRB approval date: 08/04/2023.
