The National Institute on Aging (NIA) has awarded a five-year research grant to Melda Onal, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the UAMS College of Medicine, to investigate the cellular mechanisms that regulate bone formation during aging and in osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), also known as brittle bone disease.

The research will focus on autophagy, a cellular recycling process that helps maintain the health and function of bone-forming cells. As people age, reduced autophagy may impair these cells, contributing to decreased bone formation and conditions such as osteoporosis. The team will investigate whether restoring this process can improve bone formation and strengthen the skeleton.

Because bone is continuously renewed throughout life, healthy aging depends on maintaining a balance between bone breakdown and new bone formation. The study aims to understand how this balance becomes disrupted with age and identify cellular pathways that could potentially be targeted to slow or prevent bone loss.

The research may also advance understanding of osteogenesis imperfecta, a condition characterized by fragile bones and increased fracture risk. By targeting cellular processes involved in bone formation, the researchers hope to uncover new approaches for improving bone strength and reducing fractures.

Source: https://talkbusiness.net/2026/08/uams-lands-2-4-million-to-study-bone-loss-and-disease-in-aging/