Stephanie J. Bryant, PhDBACK

Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado

Elucidating the Role of Biomechanical Factors in Age-related Changes in Cartilage: A Possible Risk Factor for Developing Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis - which is a degenerative joint disease - is a common disease of aging. More than 50% of people over the age of 65 are estimated to have some evidence of the disease. Abnormal mechanical forces caused by obesity, previous joint injury or joint misalignment in combination with aging, are thought to be a cause. Dr. Bryant will investigate the mechanisms of cartilage cell degradation involved in tissue elasticity to determine whether tissue degradation caused by abnormal mechanical forces is a risk factor for developing osteoarthritis in adult cartilage. She will also investigate whether younger cartilage may have some