Atlanta-based Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center received a $13 million grant from the Marcus Foundation for a multicenter clinical trial studying various stem cell options to treat osteoarthritis.
Here are four key details to know:
1. The research team, led by Scott D. Boden, MD, professor of orthopedic surgery at the Atlanta-based Emory University School of Medicine and director of the Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center, will compare traditional cortisone injection outcomes to outcomes from stem cell injections from autologous bone marrow concentrate, manufactured stem cells from umbilical cord tissue and adipose-derived stem cells.
2. “While there is much enthusiasm about the regenerative capacity of stem cells, it is important for the science to catch up," Dr. Boden said. "We will provide quantitative and qualitative correlations of cell characteristics to clinical outcomes and determine the relative effectiveness and conditions predictive of success of each possible option."
3. "Because of the pain associated with this disease and the lack of non-operative treatments to alleviate its consequences, there is an urgent need to further develop non-conventional therapeutics such as stem cell injections to eradicate the burden of such chronic disease," said Ken Mautner, MD, site principal investigator at Emory University School of Medicine.
4. The Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center has 24 physicians across nine locations specializing in orthopedic spine surgery, neurological spine surgery and occupational medicine.