Award
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 1R21AR085969-01A1
Modulation of tendon mechanics by hyaluronic acid
Recipient
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
Award Amount
$348,339.00
Ceiling
$348,339.00
Awarded
April 20, 2026
Identifier
1R21AR085969-01A1
NIH awarded a grant to the University of Colorado to study the impact of hyaluronic acid on tendon mechanics using advanced biochemical and mechanical methods, with the goal of improving tendon repair therapies.
Description
This NIH grant project focuses on understanding how deviations in glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content, particularly hyaluronic acid (HA), affect tendon mechanics at the fiber and tissue level. The study uses mechanical testing, laser ablation, multiphoton microscopy, proteomics, and enzymatic depletion to investigate the role of HA in tendon mechanics in both adult and aged tendons, aiming to inform regenerative therapies for tendon repair.