Grant: Operating Grant

Meniscus injury is a major risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis, a disease characterized by erosion of knee joint cartilage. Injury to the meniscus is one of the most common knee joint problems and as long as hockey, basketball, soccer and skiing remain popular pastimes in Canada, meniscus injuries will be on the rise. Osteoarthritis currently affects 1 in 10 adult Canadians. As the population ages, it is expected that the number of Canadians with the disease will increase. The annual healthcare cost associated with osteoarthritis is in excess of $4.4 billion in Canada. The meniscus serves as the major load distributor of the knee joint and protects the surface of knee cartilage. Unfortunately, when injured it cannot heal itself because it has a very limited blood supply. Current treatments involve surgical removal of damaged meniscus. However, the absence of meniscus in knee joints accelerates the development of osteoarthritis of the knee. Therefore, it is paramount that new treatment methods are developed. This proposal will investigate the possibility of using patient's own stem cells to make a living meniscus substitute for transplantation. Our work to date has provided strong evidence that the combination of patients' own meniscus cells and stem cells form tissue with meniscus-like properties. The proposed work will be a crucial first step in developing a living tissue replacement for knee meniscus.