Shriners Hospitals for Children in St. Louis recently opened a new laboratory that will focus on pediatric musculoskeletal research and regenerative medicine, according to a press release.
Last year, a Shriners Hospitals research team led by Farshid Guilak, PhD, created a living tissue, hip joint replacement for patients who have synthetic joints that will eventually wear out. This research could have lasting benefits for children, as the living replacement joint could grow with the child, the press release noted.
In addition, researchers are combining this discovery with stem cells modified for autonomous regenerative therapy (SMART) cell technology to grow a living joint with disease-fighting properties.
“Last week, it was announced that by using a new gene-editing technology, they have re-wired living cells to produce their own targeted arthritis-fighting vaccine,” according to the press release. “These SMART cells could offer more targeted treatment options for children and adults with inflammatory and chronic conditions.”
Reference:
www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
