Join our studies
Please note: COVID safe procedures are in place.
All visits can be conducted remotely.
AVAILABLE STUDIES
We are seeking participants for the following studies:
- Metformin for knee osteoarthritis with obesity – a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a potential disease modifying therapy
- Healthy joints healthy hearts: Preventing weight gain as a key mediator to improve health
- Metformin for chronic low back pain – a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial targeting pain
TRIALS FOR KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS
1. Metformin for knee osteoarthritis with obesity – a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a potential disease modifying therapy
We would like to invite volunteers aged over 40 years, who suffer from knee pain for more than 6 months, to join our clinical trial based at the Musculoskeletal Unit, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne.
Joint pain is the main problem encountered by people with knee osteoarthritis. Obesity is an important risk factor for the progression of knee osteoarthritis by triggering inflammation and metabolic abnormalities along with increased joint load.
Metformin is effective in addressing the pathophysiology of knee osteoarthritis by modulating obesity and obesity-related inflammatory and metabolic pathways. Our randomised clinical trial aims to determine whether metformin reduces knee pain and slows disease progression compared to placebo over 2 years in people with knee osteoarthritis and obesity.
As part of the study, potential participants will undergo screening, knee X-rays and blood tests to meet study eligible criteria before any study procedures are initiated. Eligible participants will be asked to take study medication every day along with undertaking blood tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of knee joint, physical measurements, and completing questionnaires over the study period.
If you are interested in participating or finding out more information about this project, please contact us via phone or email and provide your best contact number.
Email: jointstudy@monash.edu
Phone: +61 3 9903 0553
Download Participant Information and Consent Form
2. Healthy joints healthy hearts: Preventing weight gain as a key mediator to improve health
We would like to invite female volunteers aged between 40-60, who has knee pain, to join our clinical program based at the Musculoskeletal Unit, Monash University, Level 1, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne.
One in 3 women have knee pain, mostly due to osteoarthritis. People with osteoarthritis have twice the risk of cardiovascular disease and death compared to those without osteoarthritis, due to the increased obesity and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Obesity is an important risk factor for osteoarthritis. However, successful weight loss is difficult to achieve and maintain, particularly for people with joint pain. Given weight gain is common in adults and associated with increased joint pain, prevention of weight gain may be more effective and practical and should be considered to improve outcomes in osteoarthritis.
We have developed a program designed to raise awareness that the presence of knee pain is an opportunity to take action to manage knee pain and improve overall health by targeting obesity and cardiovascular risk factors, thus improving overall health outcomes, with the aim of refining it using consumer input so that it can be rolled out more widely to different populations of women.
As part of the study, eligible participants will undergo a health-professional led virtual educational program with regular follow-ups and complete questionnaires over a 12-month study period.
If you are interested in participating or finding out more information about this project, please contact us via phone or email and provide your best contact number.
Email: jointstudy@monash.edu
Phone: +61 3 9903 0553
Download Participant Information and Consent Form
TRIAL FOR CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN
3. Metformin for chronic low back pain – a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial targeting pain
We would like to invite volunteers aged 18-65 years, who suffer from low back pain for more than 3 months, to join our clinical trial based at the Musculoskeletal Unit, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne.
Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Despite this, effective treatments for this condition are limited. Metformin is a widely prescribed, safe and low-cost medication which has been used clinically for over 50 years as first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes. More recently, metformin has been shown to be effective in inhibiting one of the key pain pathways, highlighting its potential role in reducing chronic pain. Our randomised clinical trial aims to determine whether metformin reduces pain compared to placebo over 4 months in people with low back pain.
As part of the study, potential participants will undergo screening questions and have a blood test to meet study eligibility criteria. Participants taking part in the study will be asked to take study medication each day, along with having a second blood test, completing questionnaires and assisting in the collecting of data on their pain and physical activity levels.
If you are interested in participating or finding out more information about this project, please contact us via phone or email and provide your best contact number.
Email: jointstudy@monash.edu
Phone: +61 3 9903 0553