Grant: Collaborative Health Research Projects (NSERC partnered)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease affecting one in ten Canadian adults. Late stage OA leads to constant pain and loss of mobility. The most effective treatment today is total hip arthroplasty that replaces the damaged joints with prostheses made from synthetic materials such as metals. Unfortunately, it has been discovered lately that a significant number of patients have developed Adverse Local Tissue Reactions (ALTR) to some of the latest implants, resulting in extensive soft tissue damage that requires revision surgeries. This latest development has caused serious concerns to the biomedical community and the patients undergoing hip replacement. In this collaborative research project, experienced surgeons will work closely with a group of pathologists, microbiologists, cell biologist and materials engineers, as well as industry partners, to uncover the fundamental mechanisms and primary causes of the Adverse Local Tissue Reactions through a series of clinical and laboratory studies. New material technologies will be developed to minimize the adverse tissue reactions. Progress in this project will be directly translated into improved patient care through better treatment techniques and implant technologies.