Federal Grant Award Summary

Colorado State University received a $659,747 Project Grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121), awarded on June 18, 2026, with an ultimate completion date of March 31, 2029. This research initiative addresses temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc replacement through biomechanical characterization and novel implant assessment. The project targets the estimated 5–12% of the population affected by TMJ disorders, particularly advanced articular disc disorders that currently require disc resection—a procedure that often leads to subsequent joint degeneration and osteoarthritis.

The primary deliverables include characterization of the mechanical loading environment within the TMJ to establish biomechanical criteria for effective disc replacement implants that minimize internal stress; fabrication and refinement of non-resorbable composite hydrogels using biocompatible materials engineered to exhibit biomimetic properties; and rigorous mechanical evaluations of candidate materials to assess durability, wear resistance, biocompatibility, and long-term cyclic loading performance. The research aims to develop an artificial TMJ disc that restores the mechanical function of the native disc, prevents subsequent joint degeneration, and addresses the clinical limitations of prior alloplastic implant approaches that resulted in wear debris, fragmentation, and adverse inflammatory responses.