The National Institute of Nursing Research, with private-sector support from Nippon Zoki Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., is conducting two clinical trials on the investigational drug, Neurotropin, for the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome and fibromyalgia. Currently, no effective drug treatments exist for these chronic pain disorders. The Foundation for NIH raised $300,000 from the private sector to support this project.

This important new research study sponsored by a public-private partnership is designed to identify and classify biological markers (measurable physical traits also called “biomarkers”) of progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA).  Research for this study will be conducted by an international team of leading OA scientists and clinicians.  The potential impact of this project is significant; the OA biomarkers identified may be used to categorize individuals at risk of developing severe OA, to develop new measures for clinical progression of the disease, and to develop new treatment options for the prevention of OA progression.