Federal Project Grant Summary

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) awarded The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania a $2.3 million Project Grant on June 1, 2026, under the Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.846). This four-year research project, scheduled for completion by May 31, 2030, focuses on understanding osteocyte perilacunar-canalicular remodeling (PLR) mechanisms in maternal bone adaptation during and after pregnancy and lactation. The research leverages multiscale poroelastic modeling and investigational approaches to elucidate how lactation-induced activation of osteocyte PLR enlarges the lacunar-canalicular system and amplifies mechanical and biochemical signal transduction, thereby enhancing maternal bone's mechanical responsiveness and load-bearing capacity throughout the lifespan.

The project will generate fundamental research outputs including mechanistic data on osteocyte-mediated bone remodeling processes, computational modeling results, and comparative analysis of bone microstructural adaptations in reproductive versus non-reproductive bone. The research will advance understanding of why lactation confers long-term protective benefits against bone loss associated with estrogen deficiency in later life, with potential implications for developing therapeutic strategies to mitigate reproduction-related and postmenopausal bone loss in women. Performance will be conducted at the University of Pennsylvania's facilities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.