Karin Payne

Karin Payne, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopedics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus School of Medicine. Her research focuses on regenerative medicine and tissue engineering strategies for musculoskeletal injuries, particularly growth plate and cartilage damage.

Her work emphasizes the development of biomaterials such as polyelectrolyte complex hydrogels, chitosan-genipin microgels, and 3D-printed mimetic composites to enhance tissue repair mechanisms. She investigates molecular pathways (e.g., MAPK14, VEGF) and biomechanical properties of growth plate cartilage to optimize regenerative therapies.

• Key research themes: Growth plate injury repair, cartilage regeneration, stem cell differentiation, hydrogel-based delivery systems
• Collaborations: Interdisciplinary teams at CU Anschutz, Orthopaedic Research Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Recent publications highlight her contributions to understanding transcriptomic landscapes for musculoskeletal regeneration, mechanical properties of cartilage, and clinical translation of hydrogel technologies. She actively participates in preclinical model development and studies the impact of material properties on cellular responses in tissue engineering.