James Andrews, MD, and his team at Gulf Breeze, Fla.-based Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine are turning to stem cells as the next frontier in sports injury treatments, according to Sports Illustrated.
The Andrews Institute Athletic Performance & Research Pavilion houses a Regenerative Medicine Center aimed to improve treatment for athletes. Andrews Institute surgeon Adam Anz, MD, and his colleagues work at the center to examine how stem cells can help injured athletes improve more quickly. Stem cells may also help retired athletes recover from joint injury, muscle damage and degenerative brain conditions in the future.
Professional athletes are currently going overseas or to Mexico for stem cell treatments that aren't currently performed in the U.S. Dr. Anz traveled to Malaysia while he was a medical student to learn more about stem cell treatment to repair torn cartilage and injured ligaments and wanted to continue developing the field.
While Dr. Andrews and his colleagues are on the forefront of treatment, there is still much unknown about the use of stem cells. Researchers have not identified the best methods for stem cell preparation and schedule for injections, or the side effects. Dr. Andrews hopes his lab will help make some of those discoveries.
Currently, Andrews Institute researchers are involved in seven studies examining stem cells.