Kent Leach, Ph.D.
Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering
Bone Regeneration
NIH-Funded Research to Heal Broken Bones
At 鶹ý, Kent Leach is developing biomaterials that help the body heal itself — specifically, by enhancing the ability of living cells to repair damaged bones. His NIH-funded research addresses a growing crisis: nearly 1 in 2 adults in the U.S. suffer from a musculoskeletal disorder, and that number climbs to 3 in 4 among seniors. Leach’s lab has discovered new ways to keep healing cells alive long enough to regenerate bone and cartilage — offering hope for a faster recovery and stronger outcomes.
Helping Humanity
When bone injuries fail to heal properly, the result can be chronic pain, repeated surgeries lost independence — and for many, the inability to work or live actively. Leach’s research could change that by helping cells repair musculoskeletal tissues more effectively, improving recovery for everyone from injured athletes to aging adults. Without federal funding, breakthroughs slow and patients are left with outdated options. The loss also hits the economy — from delayed recoveries and rising healthcare costs to stalled innovation across biotech and medicine.
“Federal cuts won’t just slow bone healing research — they'll impact every American and weaken the medical and biotech progress our economy depends on.”
— Kent Leach