Pezzanite Research Team

Our research program can be divided programmatically into three focus areas in the field of comparative orthopedics and regenerative medicine: study of pathological responses in osteoarthritis, elucidation of the role of the gut microbiome in orthopedic conditions, and the development of cellular and immunomodulatory approaches to treat musculoskeletal disease. Our laboratory’s work spans bench to bedside, integrating basic molecular-cellular biology techniques and preclinical animal models of orthopedic conditions to inform clinical interventions in veterinary and human patients. The overall goal is to pursue a basic study of musculoskeletal homeostasis and disease to develop therapeutic strategies addressing key orthopedic challenges including osteoarthritis and multidrug-resistant infection.

The Pezzanite research lab is part of the:

Collaborations

research project

Transcriptomic response in post-traumatic osteoarthritis

This study will highlight the role that cells of the immune system play to contribute to disease progression of osteoarthritis toward the goal of developing treatments for each stage of disease.

research project

Role of the gut microbiome and bacterial metabolites in osteoarthritis

These studies will further our understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of microbiome-skeletal interactions in disease progression.

research project

Identification of optimal senolytic drug therapies to treat osteoarthritis

These studies will investigate and compare biological activity of senolytic drugs to selectively induce apoptosis and modulate senescence associated secretory phenotype for improved osteoarthritis treatment.

research project

Translational musculoskeletal research

These studies seek to promote limb restoration and functional mobility, with translational application to both veterinary and human patients.

Publications

Identification of Antibodies to Chondrocyte and Synoviocyte Antigens in Equine Osteoarthritis.
Linde P, Kurihara J, Chow L, Williams ZJ, Hendrickson D, Bass L, Dow S, Pezzanite LM. J Orthop Res. 2025 Dec;43(12):2152-2164. doi: 10.1002/jor.70085. Epub 2025 Oct 21. PMID: 41117710 Free PMC article.
Senescence-associated gene pathways are differentially expressed in equine aging-related osteoarthritis.
Singer J, Chow L, Ammons D, Sabino I, Impastato R, Dow S, Pezzanite LM. Am J Vet Res. 2025 Dec 30:1-11. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.25.09.0343. Online ahead of print. PMID: 41468690
Gut and Joint Microbiomes: Implications in Osteoarthritis.
Hendesi H, Villani DA, Prawitt J, Gill AL, Abdo Z, Santangelo KS, Pezzanite L, Gill SR, Zuscik MJ. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2025 May;51(2):295-324. doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2025.01.007. Epub 2025 Mar 6. PMID: 40246442
Incorporation of Pattern Recognition Receptor Agonists in Hydrogels to Induce Rotator Cuff Healing.
Winston SE, von Stade D, Chow L, Plaisance C, Impastato R, Dow S, Pezzanite LM, McGilvray K. Tissue Eng Part A. 2025 Dec 8. doi: 10.1177/19373341251404400. Online ahead of print. PMID: 41391944
An In Vitro Assessment of a Biopolymer-Based Medical Foam for Enhanced Antifibrinolytic and Infection Prophylaxis for Acute Wound Management.
Stoner AK, Pezzanite LM, Dow SW, Alfonso NA, McGilvray KC. ACS Appl Bio Mater. 2025 Dec 15;8(12):10878-10889. doi: 10.1021/acsabm.5c01584. Epub 2025 Nov 18. PMID: 41252298
more publications

People

Lynn Pezzanite

D.V.M., Ph.D.
Diplomate and Fellow, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Lab Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor

[email protected]

Lyndah Chow

Ph.D.
Research Scientist

[email protected]

Renata Impastato

Research Associate

[email protected]

Peter Linde

Ph.D.
Research Scientist

[email protected]

Lily Stevens

Lab Coordinator

Jacob Singer

Graduate Research Assistant

[email protected]

Cody Plaisance

Graduate Research Assistant

[email protected]

Julia Felder

Graduate Research Assistant DVM PhD Program

Jacqueline Linn

Jointly Advised Graduate Research Assistant (OBRL)

Olivia Pyke

Jointly Advised Graduate Research Assistant (OBRL)

Kate Bukovec

Jointly Advised Postdoctoral Fellow (ORC, MIP)

Giuliana Gabassi

Jointly Advised Postdoctoral Fellow (ORC)

Haylee Smith

Jointly Advised Graduate Research Assistant (IRL)

Hannah Chernavsky

Jointly Advised Graduate Research Assistant (ORC)

Isabella Sabino

D.V.M. Student

Jenaye De Seve

D.V.M. Student

Pezzanite Lab collaborates with CU Trauma surgeon Nicholas Alfonso and team on research funded by the Orthopedic Trauma Association (OTA) to reduce infection in open fractures.

CSU Translational Medicine Institute hosts University of Colorado Bone-Anchored Limb Research Group for collaborative research discussions.

Pezzanite lab team at the University of Colorado Annual Orthopedic Research Symposium and D’Ambrosia Diversity Lectureship.

CSU Investigators Laurie Goodrich, Steven Dow, Lynn Pezzanite partner with orthopedic trauma surgeon Jason Stoneback of University of Colorado on studies investigating the role of the immune system in post-traumatic osteoarthritis progression.

news and updates view all

February 23, 2026 Early Career Investigators honored at Colorado Biosciences Association Awards Event.

Dr. Lynn Pezzanite receives support from the Boettcher Webb Waring Biomedical Research Award to develop new therapies for osteoarthritis targeting immune cells.
August 25, 2025 DOD funding to assess new activated cell therapy to treat osteoarthritis.

DOD CDMRP Arthritis Program Award will explore a new treatment approach combining immune activation and regenerative therapies to treat osteoarthritis.
August 25, 2025 NIH grant to explore how gut microbiome drives osteoarthritis.

NIH Research Scientist Development Award to Lynn Pezzanite will evaluate how changes gut microbiome and innate immune system responses affect osteoarthritis progression.

contact information

Offices:
TMI 236

Laboratories:
Translational Medicine Institute

Office: (970) 297-4296