Federal Grant Award Summary

Northeastern University received a $652,195 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) under the Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.846), with an award date of June 17, 2026 and completion date of May 31, 2031. The project delivers research and development services focused on engineering surface-modified exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) as non-viral gene therapy carriers for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. Specifically, the research develops charge-reversed cationic exosomes with cartilage-targeting peptide motifs (EXO-CPC) designed to penetrate full-thickness arthritic cartilage and deliver therapeutic genetic material—including interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) messenger RNA and sodium channel inhibitor small interfering RNA (siRNA)—to chondrocytes and nerve cells in the synovial joint and subchondral bone.

The project's primary objective is to create a single-dose intra-articular therapy that simultaneously addresses both the underlying disease pathology through cartilage regeneration and provides long-term pain relief. This research addresses critical limitations in current viral vector-based gene delivery approaches by offering a non-immunogenic, non-tumorigenic alternative that overcomes the natural diffusion barriers presented by cartilage's dense, negatively charged structure. The research outcomes will include engineered exosome formulations, efficacy data on genetic material delivery to target tissues, and evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of this approach for OA management.