A strong new implant to help torn shoulder tendons heal better to bone
Stratified and mechanically-tough biomaterial implant to improve tendon-to-bone enthesis regeneration
This project is creating a special implant to help shoulder tendons reattach more strongly to bone after surgery, aiming to prevent re-tears.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11123368 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
When a rotator cuff tendon tears, surgery can reattach it to the bone, but often the new connection isn't as strong as it should be, leading to re-tears. This happens because the natural, gradual connection between tendon and bone, called the enthesis, doesn't fully regenerate. Our team is developing a new type of implant that is designed to mimic this natural connection, providing both mechanical support and a good environment for cells to grow. This implant aims to guide the body to rebuild a more complete and stronger tendon-to-bone attachment, reducing the risk of future problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who have experienced rotator cuff tears requiring surgical repair, or those at high risk of re-tearing after surgery, could potentially benefit from this research.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to tendon-to-bone healing or those not undergoing surgical repair for rotator cuff tears would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this implant could significantly improve the long-term success of rotator cuff repair surgeries by creating a stronger, more natural connection between tendon and bone.
How similar studies have performed: While current surgical methods often result in re-tears, this approach is novel in its design of a stratified biomaterial specifically engineered to regenerate the complex tendon-to-bone enthesis.
Where this research is happening
Champaign, United States
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harley, Brendan a. — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Harley, Brendan a.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.