Grant: Collaborative Health Research Projects (NSERC partnered)

Damage to the tissue that lines the surface of the bones of the knees, and that provide smooth joint motion, can ultimately progress to form cracks and defects. These cracks and defects result in the pain associated with arthritis, and is called osteoarthritis. We plan on developing a treatment method wherein we will fill these defects before they can reach the stage where the joint motion is compromised and the patient experiences the pain associated with this irreversible damage. The treatment involves a surgeon injecting into the defect a polymer in water solution that also contains stem cells harvested from fat. The polymer + cells solution cures in the tissue, filling the space and the stem cells induce healing of the damaged tissue.