Breaking Down the Research: Part 1

Phenotypic Clusters and Multimorbidity in Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

See Publication

Welcome to the first installment of Breaking Down the Research, a new science communication series from the Norris Lab. Our goal is simple: to make our research on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) accessible, relevant, and directly impactful to the people who live with it every day.

We know research can sometimes feel distant or difficult to decode, especially when it’s about a condition as complex and under-researched as hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS). That’s why we’re breaking it down. We’ll be sharing clear, community-centered explanations of the findings from our lab, old and new.

What is this study about?

This first spotlight features work led by PhD candidate Taylor Petrucci, recently published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes. The study examines phenotypic clusters and multimorbidity in over 2,000 individuals with hEDS.

That’s a fancy way of saying: the research looked at symptom patterns and co-morbid health conditions to see if people with hEDS tend to fall into specific groups. And they do. Using a method called k-means clustering, researchers identified three distinct clusters of patients based on their combinations of symptoms and diagnoses. Please scroll through our research translation below.

At the Norris Lab, we believe that science shouldn’t live behind paywalls or in academic jargon. It should live in the hands of the people it’s meant to serve. With Breaking Down the Research, we’re not just sharing findings. We’re building bridges between patients, practitioners, and researchers. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, a long-time advocate, a curious caregiver, or a fellow scientist, you deserve clear, compassionate access to the information that shapes care. This series is for you.

-- The Norris Lab