Gulf Breeze, Fla.-based Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine's physicians prepared for a stem cell research study in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Here are five key notes:
1. The forthcoming research study will involve the Andrews Research and Education Foundation at Andrews Institute working to enhance orthopedic surgery with stem cell technology.
2. Andrews Institute's Adam Anz, MD, and his team worked with Kuala Lumpur Sports Medicine Center's Dr. Khay Yong Saw, to decide how to best replicate KLSMC's operating procedures at the Regenerative Medicine Center at Andrews Institute.
3. Andrews Institute physicians currently use arthroscopic techniques to repair damaged cartilage. Through the study, they hope to enhance these techniques with the addition of stem cells.
4. The upcoming study will focus on replicating the following KLSMC stem therapy practices:
• Type of surgical procedure conducted
• Means of harvesting stem cells
• Frequency of stem cells injected into patient's back while the cartilage is healing and maturing
• Type of physical rehabilitation the patient requires after the surgical procedure
5. The main goals of the study involve improving Andrew Institute's ability to harvest a greater amount of a patient's own stem cells as well as increase the frequency of injections.
"This is a study that is seven years in the making," said Dr. Anz. "We know we already have the ability to harvest stem cells and store those stem cells. We know we can conduct the surgery; that was part of the collaboration in seeing Dr. Saw's techniques. The main part of the trip was to collaborate with the KLSMC on preparing our data similarly in the way that they prepare their data for the United States Food & Drug Administration."