New strategies for treatment of osteonecrosis using stem cells and growth factors

Osteonecrosis, also known as bone death, is a devastating disease affecting young patients at their most productive age. It involves major weight bearing joints, especially hips and knees, leading to severe arthritis causing pain and disability. The pathogenesis is unknown and there is no effective prevention and treatment. The purpose of this study is to determine new strategies for treatment of bone death and to find out why bones die in this disease.

Dr. Cui will study bone marrow stem cells that carry growth factors, which help to grow vessels and bones, to see if they will enhance the regeneration of new bone in dead bone. In this study, bone marrow stem cells will be manipulated so they can carry growth factors and will be used to treat bone death in an established bipedal chicken model. Successful completion of the project will advance our understanding and knowledge of growth factors, their role in tissue engineering and the association between vessel and bone regeneration in dead bone.