The ARPA-H Novel Innovations for Tissue Regeneration in Osteoarthritis (NITRO) program aims to develop and leverage innovative forms of regenerative medicine to create minimally invasive therapeutics that fully regenerate damaged joints. NITRO has three technical areas (TA) - injectable and/or non-invasive bone regeneration (TA1), injectable and/or non-invasive cartilage regeneration (TA2), and replacement joints built from human cells (TA3).   

Funding for awardees varies in amount and is contingent upon the recipient meeting aggressive milestones specific to their project.

The NITRO performers are:

• A team led by Duke University for TA1 and TA2, focusing on time-release of therapies  
• A team led by Washington University in St. Louis for TA1 and TA2, focusing on “smart cell” therapy 
• A team led by University of Colorado Boulder for TA1 and TA2, focusing on engineered therapeutic materials 
• A team led by Columbia University for TA3, focusing on integrated total knee implants 
• A team led by Case Western Reserve University for TA3, focusing on modular total knee implants