I love Colorado’s rodeos and rock climbing.

Christie | Denver, CO

CHRISTIE, WE Love RODEOS, ROCK CLIMBING, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

That’s why we’re developing therapies and tools to keep Coloradan's joints strong so we can keep doing what we love.

Campus Location

Boulder

Anschutz Medical Campus

Joints That Could Heal Themselves? Researchers Could Get There in 5 Years

Imagine a future where joint pain doesn’t mean surgery or lifelong discomfort. Backed by a $39 million federal grant, CU Boulder researchers are working to make self-healing joints a reality within five years.

Tackling Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis affects over 32 million Americans, breaking down cartilage and bone, causing pain and mobility loss. With rates rising due to aging, obesity, and sedentary lifestyles, current treatments are limited to pain relief or joint replacement. Led by CU Boulder’s Stephanie Bryant, PhD, a team of experts from CU Anschutz and Colorado State University is developing groundbreaking therapies to reverse this disease. “This could be a game-changer,” Bryant said.

The team’s innovations include:

• A healing shot to rebuild cartilage and bone.

• A hydrogel patch to repair joint damage.

• An annual IV infusion for widespread joint treatment.

These therapies use advanced nanoparticles to target inflamed joints, delivering regenerative medicine precisely where needed.

Making Treatment Accessible

With support from ARPA-H and CU’s AB Nexus, the team is advancing affordable solutions to make these treatments accessible to everyone. “This disease stops people from doing what they love, with ripple effects on overall health,” Bryant said. “Improving lives through this research is the opportunity of a lifetime.”