OI Studies (Currently Recruiting) 

Participate in OI Research!

As you know, supporting research is an important part of the OI Foundation’s mission and we need volunteers to help advance the scientific understanding of OI so that more and better treatments can be made available to the OI community.  The OI Foundation shares information about current research and studies through emails to those who are signed up for the OI Registry. To receive these updates and help move OI research forward, please join the OI Registry!

If at any point you have questions, please contact the OIF at bonelink@oif.org or 301-947-0083.


OI Studies (Currently Recruiting) 

Disclaimer: The OI Foundation is not involved in the design or management of this research, and as such, is neither endorsing nor supporting these studies. The mission of the OIF is to keep the OI community informed of all relevant studies. This information is made available as a service to the OI community.

7707: Use of clear aligners for the treatment of dental malocclusion in individuals with Osteogenesis Imperfecta Types III and IV (Brittle Bone Disorders Consortium)

 The purpose of this study is to determine if it is safe to use Invisalign clear aligners in correcting the misalignment of teeth in people with OI. Clear aligners are transparent plastic trays that are designed to fit over your teeth.

You may be eligible to participate if you:

  • are between ages 12 – 40
  • have OI type III or IV
  • have had no prior orthodontic treatment

Please find more information here.


7708: Cardiopulmonary Outcomes in Osteogenesis Imperfecta

The purpose of this study is to understand the cause of the restrictive pulmonary physiology in the OI population. Respiratory insufficiency is the leading cause of death in patients with OI.

You may be eligible to participate if you:

  • are 18 years or older
  • have been diagnosed with OI clinically and/or genetically
  • have no cardiopulmonary comorbidities that affect lung compliance

Please find more information here.


Ultragenyx ORBIT Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of setrusumab in pediatric and young adult patients with OI Types I, III, or IV.

Inclusion criteria:

  • 5-25 years
  • Confirmed diagnosis of OI Types I, III, or IV
  • Are willing to NOT receive bisphosphonate therapy during the study.
  • Had at least one fracture in the past year or at least two fractures in the past 2 years.

Learn more about this study here. To find out more about Ultragenyx studies, click here.


Ultragenyx COSMIC Study

 The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of setrusumab vs intravenous bisphosphonates (IV-BP) on reduction in fracture rate, including morphometric vertebral fractures in pediatric participants.

Inclusion criteria:

  • 2-4 years
  • Clinical diagnosis of OI Types I, III, or IV confirmed by identification of genetic mutation in COL1A1 or COL1A2
  • Any prior exposure to, or currently receiving, IV-bisphosphonate therapy for treatment of OI

Learn more about this study here. Please reach out to trialrecruitment@ultragenyx.com if you are interested in participating.


Poise 1 (Sanofi)

The purpose of this study is to deepen the scientific understanding of OI and the anti-TGFb antibody SAR439459, as we prepare for future long-term studies. The study also includes digital, non-invasive strategies to better understand how OI patients move and are active throughout the day. All participants will be reimbursed for travel and accommodations involved in visiting study sites during the study duration, including airfare for those who are not within driving distance of a study site.

Inclusion criteria:

  • Male or female between 18 and 65 years old, with the exception of postmenopausal women
  • Confirmed diagnosis of Osteogenesis Imperfecta Types I or IV, including documented genetic mutation in the COL1A1 or COL1A2 genes. Sanofi will provide OI-specific genotyping if it is not already in the patient’s medical history.
  • Have experienced ≥ 2 bone fractures since the age of 18 OR at least 1 bone fracture in the last 10 years.

To learn more about this study, please review the study brochure.


Updates from the OIF

OIF Scientific Meeting Recap

Each year during the OI Foundation’s annual Scientific Meeting, leading scientists and medical professionals gather to share their research on osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Dr. Frank Rauch (OIF Medical Advisory Council Member) discussed the 2023 meeting and some of the major takeaways from this year’s event in a Research Update video.


Results from the Pain and OI Survey

In the past few years, researchers have been putting more focus on understanding how pain impacts people with OI. While pain has a large impact on people’s lives, it is unclear how it specifically impacts aspects of a person’s well-being and health.

The Pain and OI Project, a group co-led by the OI Foundation and the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Federation of Europe (OIFE) created a survey where all adults with OI could share information about their pain and how it impacted them. This group consists of international OI advocacy leaders, researchers, and medical professionals from 12 different countries. This survey gives a snapshot of a group of adults with OI, and may help contextualize an individual’s experience and suggest future areas of study for more research.

Below are some major initial findings from the survey, and the OIF hopes to present a more thorough analysis later.

  1. Many people with OI appear to experience lots of chronic pain.
  2. Back pain is common for people who completed the survey.
  3. Pain impacts many parts of people’s lives including career and social life decisions.

What’s next?   

Pain and OI, like our understanding of OI itself, is complex. We hope that the results from this survey can help contextualize the pain that OI community members feel, and that it can help drive further research.

In-depth survey results will be shared in the June issue of the OIF’s Breakthrough newsletter.

Learn more about the Pain and OI project at https://oife.org/what-we-do/pain-oi/.


OI Foundation Resources: 

Current OI Studies and Publications

The OI Foundation’s Current OI Studies and Publications page features a list of OI studies that are currently recruiting, as well as a collection of published OI research.


What You Need to Know about Clinical Trials 

The OI Foundation’s What You Need to Know about Clinical Trials factsheet defines major terms and stages of clinical trials, explains the role of the FDA, and answers common questions. This and other OIF factsheets are available on the OIF website’s Information Center at www.oif.org/factsheets.


Current State of OI Research Video Series 
The OI Foundation’s Current State of OI Research video series was created to highlight and describe the work of the Brittle Bone Disorders Consortium (BBDC), a multicenter initiative that focuses on understanding and providing better treatment options for osteogenesis imperfecta. To watch recordings of these sessions, click here.


 

OIF Scientific Meeting Recap

Each year during the OI Foundation’s annual Scientific Meeting, leading scientists and medical professionals gather to share their research on osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Dr. Frank Rauch (OIF Medical Advisory Council Member) discussed the 2023 meeting and some of the major takeaways from this year’s event in a Research Update video.

Currently Recruiting!

7707: Use of clear aligners for the treatment of dental malocclusion in individuals with Osteogenesis Imperfecta Types III and IV
Misalignment of teeth may interfere with oral hygiene, gum health, jaw function, opening of the jaw, chewing, breathing, and speech. It can also affect the shape of your face, mouth and overall quality of life. There is very little information on the appropriate treatment for teeth misalignment in OI.

The purpose of this study is to determine if it is safe to use Invisalign clear aligners in correcting the misalignment of teeth in people with OI. Clear aligners are transparent plastic trays that are designed to fit over your teeth. With each new tray, teeth are moved a little at a time until they reach the desired position. We plan to have approximately 57 people take part in this study. If you take part in this study, you will be asked to come to a participating site for up to a total of 15 study visits over a course of 2 years and 4 months (or 28 months).

You may be eligible to participate if you:

  • are between ages 12 – 40
  • have OI type III or IV
  • have had no prior orthodontic treatment

How to participate:
In order to participate, you must contact the study coordinator of any of the participating institutions by phone or by e-mail. Please use the information below to inquire about participation:

National Institutes of Dental Craniofacial Research (Bethesda, Maryland)
Contact: Danielle Elangue MHA, MBA, RN,  Research Nurse Specialist ( C )
301-451-9733   |   danielle.elangue@nih.gov

University of California at Los Angeles (Los Angeles, California)
Contact: Sarah Gaunt, Clinical Research Coordinator
310 -206 -7176   |    sgaunt@mednet.ucla.edu

Disclaimer: The OI Foundation is not involved in the design or management of this research, and as such, is neither endorsing nor supporting this study. The mission of the OIF is to keep the OI community informed of all relevant studies. This information is made available as a service to the OI community. We are available to answer questions on this or any other research announcement. Please contact the OI Foundation at (301) 947-0083 or bonelink@oif.org if you have any questions.

The IMPACT Survey

Living With Osteogenesis IMPerfecta: UnderstAnding Experiences Based On Community InsighT and Evidence Survey, the IMPACT Survey


What is the IMPACT survey?

In 2021, the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (OIF), the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Federation Europe (OIFE), and Mereo BioPharma collaborated closely to launch the IMPACT Survey. The goal of this project was to capture and quantify the real impact OI has on the lives of people with OI, their families, and caregivers. We were thrilled that more than 2,200 OI community members from 66 countries participated in this survey!

The survey was based on evidence gaps around:

  • Clinical impact of OI on affected individuals
  • Humanistic impact on individuals, their families and caregivers
  • Economic impact on individuals and wider society

The IMPACT survey is now closed.  Thank you to all participants who made this possible.

 


What were the target groups?

The survey was developed for the following primary target groups:

  • Adults with OI (over 17 years old)
  • Parents (without OI) of children with OI
  • Parents (with OI) of children with OI
  • Adolescents with OI (12 – 17 years old)

In addition to the target groups above, there were also a substantial number of responses from

  • Parents of adults with OI
  • Close relatives of people with OI

There were different questions based on which target group you belong to. Adults with OI who had children with OI, could answer both on behalf of themselves and their children.


Geographic distribution of respondents

 The collaborative survey development allowed members across OI communities and geographies to participate.

 

 

 

 


What will the data be used for and how will it be stored?

The IMPACT Survey provides a large global dataset describing the experiences of the OI community.  The results of this survey are being used to improve healthcare services and potential future treatments for OI.

The data was gathered on a confidential and anonymous basis, with Non-Personally Identifiable Information (Non-PII) . It will be securely stored by Wickenstones according to Data Protection Regulations. The data is now being analyzed according to the plan developed by the Steering Committee, to prepare four proposed central publications on the impact of OI in peer-reviewed, scientific journals.


 What data has been published? What are the findings?

So far, the first article “The patient clinical journey and socioeconomic impact of osteogenesis imperfecta: a systematic scoping review” was published in Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases in February 2023. The purpose of this review was to capture and quantify the published evidence relating specifically to the clinical, humanistic, and economic impact of OI on individuals, their families, and society.

The review suggests that there is limited data regarding health concerns beyond bone health and how these concerns may impact health-related quality of life, in particular that of adult men and other family members.

The four remaining articles will be published in 2023 and 2024.

The graphic below describes the most common health conditions in adults with OI (of the past 12-months prior to answering).  Pain, fatigue and soft tissue are the most common symptoms, while fractures are in 13th place for the adult population.

We have been given permission to share this graphic.

 

 

 

Using the ECHO Model® to Expand Professional Learning Opportunities for Osteogenesis Imperfecta

OIF Director of Education, Michael Stewart is presenting a poster at #RareDiseaseDay at NIH today.

Using the ECHO Model® to Expand Professional Learning Opportunities for Osteogenesis Imperfecta

From October 2020 to September 2021, the Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) Foundation ran a monthly OI TeleECHO Clinic Series program. In every session, expert medical faculty and guest speakers deliver a didactic presentation on diagnosing or treating OI, group discussions, and then followed by participant-led case presentations. These sessions reached hundreds of medical professionals and expanded access to expert medical knowledge on this rare bone disease.
Click here to view the poster.


Complete the new OI and Pain Survey!

The OI Foundation and OI Federation of Europe (OIFE) have partnered on a new project investigating the experience of pain for people with OI. The following survey investigates the experience of pain for people with OI. This survey is for anyone 18 years old or older and was written with input from OI experts from North America and Europe.

Through this survey, the international Pain and OI Project hopes to learn more about the different types of pain people experience, severity of pain and frequency, and how it impacts people’s lives. Findings from this survey will be published online and presented at OIFE’s Topical Meeting, “Balancing Life with OI” in Stockholm, Sweden from June 9-10, 2023.

Click here to take the survey


 

Study Announcement: Poise 1

The OI Foundation would like to bring your attention to a phase 1 study of a new medical treatment being conducted by Sanofi. Sanofi is seeking participants from the OI community.


Please take a moment to read the following message from Sanofi:

Sanofi is conducting an early phase study in adults with OI Types I and IV with an anti-TGFb antibody called SAR439459. This study is called Poise 1 and is a Phase 1 study*. This study involves a single administration of SAR439459 given intravenously (IV) into the arm, with a 6-month follow period.

At this early stage in development, Sanofi is recruiting a limited range of study participants but we do anticipate expanding enrollment criteria in future studies. Participants in the Poise 1 study are not likely to experience benefits from SAR439459, and 25% will receive a placebo, but all participants will help with the scientific understanding of OI and SAR439459 as we prepare for future long-term studies. The study also includes digital, non-invasive strategies to better understand how OI patients move and are active throughout the day.

TGFb signaling is an important part of the bone remodeling environment, playing a role in the balance of forces which remove and build new bone. In OI, signaling related to TGFb is dysregulated and Sanofi is currently the only company pursuing this specific approach to treat OI.  A molecule similar to SAR439459, called fresolimumab, has been shown to increase bone mineral density in some Type IV OI patients after a single dose.

All participants will be reimbursed for travel and accommodations involved in visiting study sites during the study duration, including airfare for those who are not within driving distance of a study site.  Please see the study brochure for more information about where the study sites are located and for references to the information given above.


WHAT IS A PHASE 1 STUDY?

*Phase 1: a small group of human participants are examined; looking for safety, proper dosage amounts and to confirm it has some response in humans. Phase 1 may be done in healthy volunteers or in patients with the disease, or at-risk of the disease, under study.

Interested in learning more about participating in Clinical Trials? Take a look at the OI Foundation’s What You Need To Know About Clinical Trials Factsheet.

INCLUSION CRITERIA:
  • Male or female between 18 and 65 years old, with the exception of postmenopausal women
  • Confirmed diagnosis of Osteogenesis Imperfecta Types I or IV, including documented genetic mutation in the COL1A1 or COL1A2 genes. Sanofi will provide OI-specific genotyping if it is not already in the patient’s medical history.
  • Have experienced ≥ 2 bone fractures since the age of 18 OR at least 1 bone fracture in the last 10 years.
LEARN MORE
If you have any questions about this study, you may email Contact-US@sanofi.com or call 800-633-1610, ext option 6 (Toll free for US & Canada).

Disclaimer: The OI Foundation is not involved in the design or management of this research, and as such, is neither endorsing nor supporting this study. The mission of the OIF is to keep the OI community informed of all relevant studies. This information is made available as a service to the OI community.


Pain and OI Project

A number of recent surveys have shown that approximately 60% of individuals with OI report that they suffer from chronic pain. To increase research around pain management, the OI Foundation and Osteogenesis Imperfecta Federation Europe (OIFE) have come together to form the Pain and OI Project, an international resource group made up of a variety of professionals and representatives of OI.  The project goal is to make recommendations on how to assess and measure pain, to promote educational activities about OI to target groups, and to construct a toolbox for children and adults to help manage chronic pain. Learn more about this project at https://oife.org/2022/10/28/oife-pain-oi-project/


 

OI Research Announcement: Use of clear aligners…

The OI Foundation would like to bring your attention to a research study being conducted by the Brittle Bone Disorders Consortium:
Please call/email to see if you are eligible to participate or have any questions.

Bethesda, MD area:  National Institutes of Health
Danielle Elangue danielle.elangue@nih.gov 301-771-1378

Los Angeles, CA area: UCLA
Hannah Ebbers HEbbers@mednet.ucla.edu 310.794.6420

For more information about current studies through the Brittle Bones Disorders Consortium (BBDC), visit the BBDC webpage.


 

Michael Geisman Fellowship Grant – Applications Now Available

Michael Geisman Fellowship Grant

The Michael Geisman Fellowship Grant program awards funding to post-doctoral trainees who are currently working on projects with clear relevance to osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), or who have projects that will enable them to develop expertise in OI research.

Applicant Requirements:

  • Applicant must hold an MD, DDS, DO, or PhD, and be appointed at the level of a post-doctoral trainee, or equivalent, within an academic institution.
  • Applicant should have completed their Ph.D. or clinical training within the past five (5) years.

Fellowship Guidelines:

  • Michael Geisman Fellowship awards provide up to $50,000 per year. It is the intention of the OI Foundation that grant monies be used to fund actual costs related to the research being performed including Fellow salary, fringe benefits, and supplies.
  • Fellowship awards are for one year; a second year of funding may be approved based upon satisfactory performance during the first year of funding.
  • Research must be done under the supervision of mentor with training and experience in osteogenesis imperfecta research or research in a related field.

How to Apply:

  1. Complete application (pg. 2-8)
  2. Mentor of applicant must submit a copy of his/her NIH biosketch and a letter of recommendation on behalf of the trainee, which also confirms that the mentor will supervise the trainee’s research.
  3. Applications require two additional letters of recommendation from scientists or clinicians who can comment upon the applicant’s training, ability, and potential to develop expertise in OI research.
  4. Submit application, reference letters, and mentor biosketch as PDF documents to sconnors@oif.org NO LATER THAN November 30, 2022.

If you have any questions, please contact Stacie Connors at sconnors@oif.org.

 

Click here for the 2022 Michael Geisman Fellowship application.