Early Diagnosis and Staging of Cartilage Injury and Degeneration

More than 21 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis (OA), and reliable methods for early diagnosis of cartilage injury and degeneration are critical for developing new treatments.

The critical first steps in early treatment are early detection and accurate staging of disease. Bench to bedside research in this area is multi-disciplinary employing novel imaging technologies such as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and novel quantitative and working with key collaborators to study high resolution MRI techniques such as MRI T2 Map and ultrashort echo time enhanced MRI for the evaluation of early articular cartilage injury and degeneration. Concomitant collection, assessment and study of biochemical biomarkers in patients with joint injuries who have undergone conventional and advanced imaging studies comprise the clinical arm of the work.

Cartilage Tissue Engineering and Cartilage Repair

Cartilage tissue engineering and cartilage repair represent early treatment of discrete cartilage injuries and defects. Articular cartilage has a limited intrinsic healing capacity. Consequently, cartilage injury progresses to OA in the majority of patients. Improving articular cartilage repair could delay the onset of debilitating OA.

Research encompasses stem cell biology, novel technologies for highly localized and externally controllable gene therapy and the use of natural scaffolds to optimize the cartilage repair potential of human mesenchymal stem cells. The projects represent bench to bedside translational research with proof of concept research in small animal models, multi-center large animal preclinical studies, and clinical research in analysis of human stem cell performance as well as clinical outcomes following cartilage repair procedures.

Chrondoprotection

Chondroprotection research focuses on optimizing survival of stressed chondrocytes after trauma, disease, or mechanical insult. Current studies include determining the force and time dependence of chondrocyte death following impact injury and the effects of hypoxic and chemical conditions on chondrocytes.

The use of newer imaging technologies are enabling identification of cartilage injury and degeneration prior to breakdown of the articular surface when pathological changes may be potentially reversible. The focus of the CRC's chondroprotection research is on optimizing the survival of the stressed chondrocyte following injury or in disease. The CRC is studying the effects of mechanical, biochemical and oxidative stresses on healthy, degenerative and aged articular cartilage and employing localized gene therapy, pharmacological agents and mechanical manipulations to improve cartilage durability and health.