Earlier this month, Wan-Ju Li, PhD, associate professor in the UW Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, and his research team were awarded a $500,000 Research Forward grant to support a bold new project that integrates cutting-edge science and engineering to tackle one of the biggest challenges in healthcare – osteoarthritis.

Affecting over 32 million Americans, osteoarthritis is a leading cause of chronic pain and disability, with current treatments providing only limited long-term relief. Although joint replacement surgery can restore function, the procedure involves the removal of damaged cartilage and bone and the replacement of these tissues with metal and plastic implants. This approach is highly invasive, costly, and may come with risks such as infection, implant failure, and lengthy recovery periods.

Dr. Li and his team are developing a novel, minimally invasive method to treat joint damage by bioprinting engineered cartilage directly inside the body.

The project brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts across medicine and engineering:

Principal Investigator

• Dr. Wan-ju Li (Orthopedics) – Leads research in musculoskeletal tissue engineering and animal models for joint disease.

Co-Principal Investigators

• Dr. Xiao Kuang (Mechanical Engineering) – Specializes in ultrasound-based 3D printing, biomaterials, and machine learning.

• Dr. Chu Ma (Electrical and Computer Engineering) – Brings expertise in ultrasound imaging and real-time computational systems.

• Dr. Andrea Spiker (Orthopedics) – Orthopedic surgeon providing critical clinical insight into joint injury and repair.

Together, the team is pioneering a first-of-its-kind technique that uses advanced ultrasound technology, custom-engineered bioinks, and AI-guided 3D printing to regenerate cartilage directly within the body, eliminating the need for open surgery. Unlike conventional surgical interventions that require large incisions and permanent synthetic implants, this new method uses ultrasound imaging to precisely guide the real-time printing of living cartilage directly inside the body, without the need for open surgery.

With the potential to dramatically reduce recovery time, surgical risks, and long-term complications, this safer, more targeted approach offers new hope to millions suffering from joint degeneration.

“Securing this highly competitive grant is a true testament to Dr. Li and his team, representing both visionary thinking and scientific excellence. By pioneering a method to print living cartilage inside the body using ultrasound guidance – without open surgery – this research promises to redefine orthopedic care and help millions suffering from joint degeneration.”

Bryan Heiderscheit, PT, PhD
Frederick Gaesnlen Professor in Orthopedics
Vice Chair of Research
Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

About the Research Forward Initiative

Hosted by the UW-Madison Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) and funded by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), the Research Forward Initiative seeks to “stimulate and support highly innovative and groundbreaking research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison,” encouraging multidisciplinary, multi-investigator projects with the potential to transform fields and address major societal challenges.