b'Economic developers from across Colorados Front Range joined the two-day tour, which concluded at CSUs Translational Medicine Institute.Colorado Innovations Offer Colorado State UniversityHope for Osteoarthritis Patients Laurie Goodrich, DVM, Ph.D., is a professor of equine surgery who serves as the DirectorTo help humansFor the 32.5 million U.S. adults who suffer from osteoarthritis (OA), there is hope on theof the Orthopaedic Research Center at theand animals at the horizon thanks to groundbreaking innovationsC. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine in Colorado. Institute at Colorado State University. Shesame time is trulysays horses experience naturally occurring University of Colorado Boulder OA, when cartilage, the bodys natural shockmotivating.Momentum continues to build for the discovery ofabsorber, deteriorates, resulting in painful game-changing OA treatments. In March 2024, ainflammation, instability, and reduced rangeLAURIE GOODRICH, D.V.M., Ph.D. research team of scientists led by the University ofDIRECTOR, ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH CENTER of motion.C. WAYNE MCILWRAITH TRANSLATIONALColorado Boulder, with the University of ColoradoMEDICINE INSTITUTE, CSUAnschutz Medical Campus and Colorado StateThat translates to humans because what we University, received up to $39 million in federalexperience with joint issues is remarkably similar. Currently, regenerative therapies are being research funding from the Advanced ResearchIf somebody blindfolded you, put you into anstudied for use in both equine therapy and Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).operating room, and you looked at the kneehumans. Protein-rich plasma (PRP), autol-The ARPA-H Novel Innovations for Tissuearthroscopy, you wouldnt know if it was aogous conditioned serum (ACS), and stem Regeneration in Osteoarthritis (NITRO) programhorse or a person, says Goodrich. If you cancell therapy all have shown promise not only was created to develop novel innovations toget a therapy to work in a horse, it should workto ease pain but also to regenerate tissue, help the human body repair its own joints. Thein a person.providing a longer-term solution for OA. Colorado team of 70 multi-institutional veter- Those frontiers are actively explored at CSUsAdditionally, Goodrich says gene therapy inarians, researchers, medical scientists, andCollege of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedicalmethods are being explored to directly deliver engineers is diligently working to transition OASciences, a shining example of excellence,therapeutic molecules to both control inflam-innovations for human patients in five years: aachieving a No. 2 ranking as the nationsmation and promote healing. healing shot, an injury-patching hydrogel patch,best veterinary school by U.S. News & WorldIts some of the most exciting science Ive been and an annual infusion. The project aims toReport. Its $65 million Translational Medicinea part of, says Goodrich. To help humans and provide accessibility and minimize cost.Institute is a hub of innovation.animals at the same time is truly motivating. 2025-2026 BIOSCIENCE COLORADO 31'