Osteoarthritis is one of the world's most common causes of pain and disability. Today, doctors cannot yet predict how quickly the disease will progress or which treatment will work best for each patient. This project will create “digital twins” of human knee cartilage — virtual models that mirror how a patient's cartilage changes over time. By combining medical images, patient data, and computer simulations, the research will allow scientists to test how movement, inflammation, and treatment affect joint health. The digital twins will make it possible to forecast how osteoarthritis develops and to identify the most effective therapies early, before irreversible damage occurs. The work brings together experts in Finland, the United States, Spain, and the United Kingdom towards societal relevance, equality, and open knowledge dissemination. It will advance personalized medicine, improve quality of life, and support earlier, more precise care for people living with joint diseases.

2026

2030