David T. Felson, MD, MPH
Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Medicine
Rheumatology

MD, Johns Hopkins University
MPH, Boston University School of Public Health
AB, Harvard College



Dr. David Felson's research interests include: understanding how to prevent osteoarthritis and treat osteoarthritis. In osteoarthritis, Dr. Felson’s interests include studying whether treatments for rheumatic diseases are effective and particularly in osteoarthritis, identifying biomechanical risk factors for disease and testing biomechanical treatments and characterizing MRI features of normal knees and knees with pain. He also studies outcome measurement in rheumatic disease and has focused in this work on rheumatoid arthritis trials.

Professor
Boston University School of Public Health
Epidemiology


Investigator
Framingham Heart Study


Member
Boston University
Arthritis & Autoimmune Diseases Research Center


Member
Boston University
Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research


Graduate Medical Sciences Educator and Mentor (Primary Mentor of Graduate Students)
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences




Novel Insights into Osteoarthritis, Pain and Function: MOST 4
06/01/2023 - 02/29/2028 (Multi PI of Sub-Project / SP)
PI: Tuhina Neogi, MD, PhD
NIH/National Institute on Aging
5U19AG076471-03

Patient-centered Development of a Composite Digital Endpoint of Mobility and Pain for Knee Osteoarthritis
08/01/2025 - 07/31/2027 (Multi-PI)
PI: David T. Felson, MD, MPH
NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke
1UG3NS143758-01

The Boston University Clinical and Transitional Science Institute
04/15/2020 - 03/31/2026 (Sub-Project Level Key Person)
PI: Megan H. Bair-Merritt, MD, MSCE
NIH/National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
5UL1TR001430-09

FastOA-MIL: Identification of Rapid Progression of PTOA in the Military Health System
10/29/2021 - 10/31/2024 (PI)
Arthritis Foundation


Boston University CCCR
09/11/2019 - 07/31/2024 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of Arthritis & Musculoskeletal & Skin Diseases
5P30AR072571-05

Systemic contribution of age-associated epigenetic mechanisms to osteoarthritis
07/01/2020 - 06/30/2024 (Subcontract PI)
Hebrew SeniorLife NIH NIAMS
5R01AR075356-04

Fats, Fiber and Osteoarthritis
08/01/2017 - 05/31/2024 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of Arthritis & Musculoskeletal & Skin Diseases
5R01AR071950-04

Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST) Second Renewal-Boston University
07/01/2015 - 05/31/2023 (PI)
NIH/National Institute on Aging
5U01AG018820-18

Uncovering the Genetic Mechanisms Behind Joint-Specific Osteoarthritis
04/01/2018 - 01/31/2023 (Subcontract PI)
President and Fellows of Harvard College NIH NIAMS
5R01AR070139-05

FastOA: Predictors of rapid symptom progression after ACL reconstruction
01/01/2021 - 12/31/2022 (Subcontract PI)
Cleveland Clinic Foundation Arthritis Foundation


Showing 10 of 50 results. Show All Results


Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs
2026 Project 2: Synovial Fluid Proteomics 5U19AG076471-04-8206
2026 Administrative Core 5U19AG076471-04-8201
2025 Patient-centered Development of a Composite Digital Endpoint of Mobility and Pain for Knee Osteoarthritis 1UG3NS143758-01
2025 Project 2: Synovial Fluid Proteomics 5U19AG076471-03-8206
2025 Administrative Core 5U19AG076471-03-8201
2025 Novel Insights into Osteoarthritis, Pain and Function: MOST4 5U19AG076471-03
2024 Project 2: Synovial Fluid Proteomics 5U19AG076471-02-8206
2024 Administrative Core 5U19AG076471-02-8201
2024 Novel Insights into Osteoarthritis, Pain and Function: MOST4 5U19AG076471-02
2023 Novel Insights into Osteoarthritis, Pain and Function: MOST4 1U19AG076471-01A1
Showing 10 of 175 results. Show All Results

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Bacon KL, Felson DT, Jafarzadeh SR, Hausdorff JM, Gazit E, Guermazi A, Roemer FW, Segal NA, Lewis CE, Nevitt MC, Kumar D. Association of Wearable Sensor-Derived Gait Measures With Cartilage Damage Over Two Years Among Adults With or at Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2026 Feb 13.View Related Profiles. PMID: 41685951
     
  2. Holden MA, Nicholls E, Abdali Z, Birrell F, Borrelli B, Callaghan M, Dziedzic K, Felson D, Foster NE, Halliday N, Ingram C, Jinks C, Jowett S, Peat G. Provision of knee bracing for knee osteoarthritis (PROP OA): multicentre, parallel group, superiority, statistician blinded, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2026 Jan 26; 392:e086005.View Related Profiles. PMID: 41587822; PMCID: PMC12829467; DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2025-086005;
     
  3. Tang J, Boel F, van Buuren MM, Riedstra NS, van den Berg MA, Ahedi H, Arden NK, Bierma-Zeinstra SMA, Boer CG, Cicutini F, Cootes T, Crossley KM, Felson DT, Gielis WP, Heerey JJ, Jones G, Kluzek S, Lane NE, Lindner C, Lynch JA, van Meurs J, Mosler AB, Nelson AE, Nevitt M, Oei EHG, Runhaar J, Weinans H, Agricola R. Cam morphology and the risk of developing radiographic hip osteoarthritis within 8 years: an individual participant data meta-analysis of 23 886 hips from the world COACH consortium. Br J Sports Med. 2026 Jan 15; 60(1):28-35. PMID: 41314784; PMCID: PMC7618585; DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2025-110144;
     
  4. van den Berg MA, Boel F, van Buuren MMA, Riedstra NS, Tang J, Ahedi H, Arden NK, Bierma-Zeinstra SMA, Boer CG, Cicuttini FM, Cootes TF, Felson DT, Gielis WP, Heerey J, Jones G, Kluzek S, Lane NE, Lindner C, van Meurs JBJ, Mosler A, Nelson AE, Nevitt MC, Oei EH, Runhaar J, Weinans H, Krijthe JH, Agricola R. Hip Morphology-Based Osteoarthritis Risk Prediction Models: Development and External Validation Using Individual Participant Data From the World COACH Consortium. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2026 Apr; 78(4):489-500. PMID: 40826979; DOI: 10.1002/acr.25629;
     
  5. Centor RM, Felson D. Annals On Call - Cost-Effectiveness of Weight Loss Drugs for Knee Osteoarthritis. Ann Intern Med. 2025 Dec; 178(12):e2505155OC. PMID: 41325610
     
  6. Huang CH, Segal NA, Felson DT, Sherman DA, Lewis CL, Bacon KL, Lynch J, Lewis CE, Stefanik J. Effect of Knee Extensor Power on Knee Pain in Adults With or at Risk for Osteoarthritis: The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study. J Rheumatol. 2025 Dec 01; 52(12):1281-1287.View Related Profiles. PMID: 40953946; PMCID: PMC12443331; DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.2025-0621;
     
  7. Corrigan P, Lewis CL, Costello KE, Kumar D, Felson DT, Neogi T, Bacon KL, LaValley MP, Guermazi A, Roemer F, Nevitt MC, Lewis CE, Torner JC, Stefanik JJ. Relation of vertical ground reaction forces while walking to contralateral structural worsening in adults with unilateral knee osteoarthritis: the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2026 Feb; 132:106718.View Related Profiles. PMID: 41352273; PMCID: PMC12799055; DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2025.106718;
     
  8. Sara LK, Felson DT, LaValley MP, Stefanik JJ, Lewis CL. Response to letter to the editor regarding 'The relation of walking forces to structural damage in the knee: The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study'. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2026 Jan; 34(1):182-183.View Related Profiles. PMID: 41265825; DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2025.11.006;
     
  9. Sieberer JM, Park N, Desroches S, Brennan K, Rancu A, McGinley B, Manafzadeh AR, Segal NA, Felson D, Tommasini SM, Wiznia DH, Fulkerson JP. Breaking down tibial tuberosity to trochlear groove distance into two components to enable patient-specific treatment strategies. J ISAKOS. 2026 Feb; 16:101025. PMID: 41173215; PMCID: PMC12802969; DOI: 10.1016/j.jisako.2025.101025;
     
  10. Wallace IJ, Felson DT, Kraus VB, Neogi T, Haugen IK, Huebner JL, Sena CMT, Kivell TL, Holowka NB, Worthington S, Lim YAL, Venkataraman VV, Kraft TS, Lea AJ. Dampened inflammation and reduced risk of osteoarthritis among non-industrialized societies. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2026 Jan; 34(1):18-27.View Related Profiles. PMID: 41072881; PMCID: PMC12614817; DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2025.09.014;
     
Showing 10 of 1039 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 1036 publications over 43 distinct years, with a maximum of 55 publications in 2011

YearPublications
19842
19852
19863
19875
19886
19899
199011
19917
19929
199314
199415
199515
199612
199715
199820
199918
200021
200122
200224
200326
200429
200531
200630
200733
200853
200941
201044
201155
201244
201338
201437
201549
201643
201745
201841
201922
202033
202129
202223
202314
202423
202519
20264


Major Weight Loss and Knee-Pain Relief Seen With New Eli Lilly Drug

The New York Times 12/11/2025

Can collagen supplements improve your skin? Here's what the research shows

NPR 10/20/2025

Obesity Drug Shows Promise in Easing Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

The New York Times 10/30/2024

Semaglutide linked to reduced arthritis knee pain in people with obesity, study finds

NBC News 10/30/2024

Wegovy Reduced Pain From Knee Osteoarthritis

Medpage Today 10/30/2024

What Causes Osteoarthritis? BU Researchers Win $46 Million Grant to Pursue Answers and Find New Treatments

The Brink 3/20/2024

Researchers suggest new approach for testing treatments for osteoarthritis.

Scientific Inquirer 11/12/2023

PCPs and Knee OA: When to Keep Treating, When to Refer

Medscape 10/26/2023

BU researchers novel osteoarthritis treatment testing idea

Tech Explorist 10/13/2023

Arthritis Foundation Announces First-Ever Foundation-Directed Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis Clinical Trial

Markets Insider 10/12/2023

Can Metformin Reduce Need for Total Joint Replacement in Diabetes?

Medscape 12/20/2022

The Safety of Corticosteroid Injections for People With Knee Osteoarthritis

Medpage Today 3/15/2022

Are Cortisone Injections Good or Bad for Arthritic Knees?

Health Day 12/21/2021

Suffer From Knee Osteoarthritis? Stay Away From This Common Exercise

Woman's World 9/21/2021

Intense Strength Training Does Not Ease Knee Pain, Study Finds

The New York Times 2/19/2021

How Top Experts Are Advancing Osteoarthritis Care and Assessments in the United States

Rheumatology Advisor 9/18/2020

Interleukin-1ß inhibitory effects give this monoclonal antibody its potential as an anti-osteoporotic agent

Physicians Weekly 8/6/2020

Interleukin-1-beta blockade may slow progression of osteoarthritis

MD Alert 8/3/2020

Gardening with Arthritis: 5 Habits to Avoid Pain and Joint Strain

Creaky Joints 6/26/2020

Summer Shoes and Arthritis: 8 Types That Cause Foot Pain (and How to Prevent It)

Creaky Joints 6/23/2020

Boston University researcher Felson awarded National Institute of Health grant

Wicked Local Newton 11/7/2019

Questions Linger About Steroid Injections and Knee Arthritis

Medscape 2/7/2019

Nonsurgical Therapies for Knee OA Pain: From Medications to Bracing to Exercise, What Works & What Doesn’t

The Rheumatologist 11/28/2018

Joint Ownership: How to Take Care of Your Aching Joints

Family Circle 11/5/2018

Clinical Challenge: Halting the OA Upswell

MedPage Today 11/4/2018

Osteoarthritis Prevention: Important Considerations for Population-Based Strategies

Rheumatology Advisor 10/17/2018

Many in Middle Age Have Arthritis—They Just Don’t Know It

The Wall Street Journal 4/22/2018

2020 Arthritis Foundation: Howley Prize
2017 Wiesbaden, Germany: Carol Nachman prize
2012 Osteoarthritis Research Socieity International: Lifetime Achievement Award
2010-2010 Arthritis Foundation, Mass Chapter: Dr. Marian Ropes Award for research accomplishments, patient care and teaching
2004 Arthritis Foundation: Howley Prize
2001 American College of Rheumatology: Clinical Research Award
In addition to these self-described keywords below, a list of MeSH based concepts is available here.

Epidemiology
Osteoarthritis
rheumatoid arthritis
knee pain
hip pain
shoulder pain

Available to Mentor as: (Review Mentor Role Definitions):
  • Advisor
  • Career Mentor
  • Co-Mentor or Peer Mentor
  • Education Mentor
  • Project Mentor
  • Research / Scholarly Mentor
Contact for Mentoring:

650 Albany St Evans Biomed Research Ctr
Boston MA 02118
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