Research Bone/Joint Repair

It was said...

"PTEI has been highly valuable to me because of their support and excellent people."

Johnny Huard, PhD
Henry J. Mankin, Endowed Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery Research, University of Pittsburgh

Orthopaedic injuries are uniquely challenging because they often occur in parts of the body subject to great wear and tear, the joints, and frequently involve one or more tissues — bone, cartilage, ligament and tendon.

PTEI has supported several orthopedic regenerative medicine projects through the years, including several with the Carnegie Mellon University Bone Tissue Engineering Center.

While the prospect of creating entire replacement joints — knees and hips, for example — is well in the future, PTEI-funded researchers are developing treatments of orthopedic injuries that can slow the process of joint deterioration and delay the need for joint replacement until the day, perhaps, a fully tissue-engineered replacement joint has been developed.

One current project is focused on the design of an enhanced bone implant material for combat casualties and a variety of reconstructive orthopedic uses.