Biologics

Here are nine key developments in stem cell research for spine this year:

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Helen DeVos Children's Hospital provided a $2.1 million gene therapy drug for spinal muscular atrophy to a one-year-old girl in November, reports Fox 47 News.

Dr. Conor Buckley, director of biomedical engineering at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, received a European Research Grant to study spinal regeneration on Dec. 10, reports The Irish Times.

Anika launched Tactoset, its new surgical therapy for bone repair procedures at the Orthopaedic Summit 2019: Evolving Techniques, which is taking place in Las Vegas, Dec. 11-14.

While biologic-based treatments have loads of promise when it comes to orthopedics, illegal actors are tarnishing the space and promoting false narratives that hurt scientific advances. 

ElevateBio appointed Melissa Carpenter, PhD, as chief scientific officer of regenerative medicine Dec. 9.

The FDA cleared EmCyte's Progenikine Concentrating System for adipose lipoplasty for procedures in several specialties including neurosurgery and orthopedics.

Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic is in the midst of analyzing a stem cell therapy for spine injuries, the Minneapolis StarTribune reports.

The Arthroscopy Association of North America, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, International Cartilage Repair Society and ON Foundation have partnered to form The Biologics Alliance.

The U.S. Department of Defense's Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program recently provided the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a $750,000 grant to study the NuCress scaffold's ability to combat infection while regenerating bone, reports Newswise.