Chu Ma is part of 2025 Research Forward project using AI for non-surgical joint repair

Chu Ma, a Dugald C. Jackson Assistant Professor in electrical and computer engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is co-principal investigator on a 2025 Research Forward initiative selected by The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR). The program, supported by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), provides 1 to 2 years of project funding for collaborative, multidisciplinary, multi-investigator research projects that are high-risk, high-impact, and transformative. Ma’s project is titled “Real-time monitoring and adaptive control of in situ focused ultrasound bioprinting augmented by artificial intelligence for joint repair” and is led by principal investigator Wan-Ju Li, an associate professor of orthopedics and rehabilitation and biomedical engineering.

Osteoarthritis is a common and debilitating disease that affects more than 32 million Americans. It causes chronic pain, reduced mobility and often leads to depression. The economic impact is also significant, with an estimated annual cost of nearly $137 billion. Traditional treatments offer limited long-term relief. While joint replacement surgery can help, it involves removing damaged cartilage and bone, then implanting metal and plastic prostheses to restore joint function. The procedure is invasive, expensive and carries risks such as infection, implant failure and extended recovery time.

The Research Forward team is developing a groundbreaking new approach. Using advanced ultrasound technology, the team can bioprint engineered cartilage implants directly inside the body without open surgery. The technique uses real-time, AI-powered imaging to guide the precise construction of tissue at the site of damage. By minimizing the need for open surgery, it offers a safer, more targeted approach that could lead to better healing outcomes. The team aims to transform osteoarthritis treatment and provide patients with a less invasive, longer-lasting solution.

Xiao Kuang, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering also serves as co-principal investigator. Andrea Spiker, an assistant professor of orthopedics and rehabilitation, is co-investigator.