Miniature human joint-on-chip to speed arthritis treatment testing
Microphysiological joint-on-chip platform for the study of arthritic diseases
Building a tiny lab-grown human joint model to test new treatments faster for people with osteoarthritis and other forms of arthritis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11164659 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project builds a small "joint-on-chip" that mimics human joint tissues using human-derived materials and cells. The device will recreate cartilage, bone, and surrounding tissues and apply realistic movement to mirror how joints behave in real life. Researchers will use the model to run many treatment candidates quickly and learn which ones change disease processes before trying them in people. Because the system uses human materials and mechanical forces, it aims to give results that are more relevant to patients than simple cell cultures.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis who are willing to donate tissue samples or be considered for follow-on clinical testing would be the most relevant patient partners for this work.
Not a fit: Patients seeking an immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit directly because this is a laboratory model development project rather than a therapeutic trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could speed up discovery of effective arthritis drugs and reduce time and cost to bring better treatments to patients.
How similar studies have performed: Organ-on-chip technologies have shown promise in other fields and early joint models exist, but broad clinical translation for arthritis treatments remains limited so far.
Where this research is happening
Boulder, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado — Boulder, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Neu, Corey P — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Neu, Corey P
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.