The TrialLaunch Program

The CoMeT Clinical Trial 

The Corticosteroid Meniscectomy Randomized Trial is a phase 4 study that evaluates extended-release triamcinolone (Zilretta) to reduce inflammation and improve recovery after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) for osteoarthritis. While 70% of APM patients see symptom relief, outcomes vary, likely due to unmeasured inflammation. Led by Morgan H. Jones, MD, MPH, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and funded by the Arthritis Foundation and Pacira BioSciences, the study examines Zilretta’s impact on knee pain, function and structural damage. CoMeT is a predecessor of the PIKASO Project. Read more about CoMeT.

The MOCHA Clinical Trial 

The Montelukast as a Chondroprotective treatment following ACL reconstruction trial is an international, phase 1 clinical study testing whether a six-month course of the drug montelukast (Singulair) can slow or stop cartilage degradation in post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). As a predecessor to PIKASO, MOCHA — led by Cale Jacobs, PhD, from Mass General Brigham and Austin Stone, MD, from University of Kentucky — establishes key concepts, like patient-reported outcomes and biomarker testing. It is part of a program fostering early-stage OA Clinical Trial Network (OACTN) trials. Read more about MOCHA.

The Weight-Bearing Computerized Tomography Study 

Led by Donald D. Anderson, PhD, and Brian R. Wolf, MD, from the University of Iowa, this study utilizes weight-bearing computerized tomography — a tool to measure bone structures while a subject is standing or walking — to evaluate risk for post-traumatic osteoarthritis after ACL reconstruction.

The TarHEAL Study 

The Targeting Joint Health Early After ACL Injury study, led by Brian Pietrosimone, PhD, examines how knee joint stress and movement patterns change from ACL injury to post-reconstruction, helping to identify risks for PTOA. A predecessor to PIKASO, this study informs future treatments and advances research in biomechanical and joint imaging techniques.

The Concentrated Bone Marrow Aspirate in Revision ACL Reconstruction Clinical Trial 

Led by Miguel Otero, PhD, from Hospital for Special Surgery, this phase 2 pilot trial tests whether concentrated bone marrow aspirate can improve pain and inflammation in patients undergoing revision ACL surgery for PTOA. It explores how concentrated bone marrow aspirate affects symptoms and inflammation levels, and which components may drive its potential benefits. Read more about the Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) study.

The External Focus of Attention Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis Clinical Trial 

ACL injuries are common and often treated with reconstruction, but this does not prevent future injury or arthritis. Led by Abbey Thomas, PhD, from University of North Carolina at Charlotte, this interventional study examines whether certain new ways of providing feedback about the way people move can help to modify movement patterns more effectively than standard treatments that are known to raise the risk for PTOA.

The OASIS Study 

Led by Dan White, Sc.D., from the University of Delaware, the Observational Arthritis Foundation Internet Study explores how reducing sedentary behavior and increasing physical activity affects pain, function and quality of life in 500 adults with arthritis. The results of this internet-recruited study will help define activity targets to guide future clinical trials. Read more about OASIS.