CSU stem-cell treatment for joint injury in horses gaining popularity

CSU stem-cell treatment for joint injury in horses gaining popularity
Coloradoan
By: Adam Chodak
Published: September 23rd, 2009
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CSU stem-cell treatment for joint injury in horses gaining popularity

BY ADAM CHODAK • adam.chodak@9news.com • September 23, 2009

 Stem-cell therapy developed by CSU's Equine Orthopedic Research Center shows promise in treating joint injuries in horses.  The treatment entails harvesting stem cells from the horse's bone marrow, multiplying the number of cells in a lab and then injecting those cells into the injured tissue.

"(These cells) incorporate into the tissue and actually regenerate tissues that we're trying to heal," said Dr. Laurie Goodrich, an equine surgeon at Colorado State University.

Although this treatment is still experimental, Goodrich says, its popularity among veterinarians across the country is growing.

"It's very exciting and a very exciting field to be a part of at this point," she said.

To meet the growing demand, two CSU researchers, Dr. David Frisbie and Dr. John Kisiday, created a spinoff business, called Advanced Regeneration Therapies, or ART, dedicated to multiplying stem cells for veterinarians.

ART started taking orders last year. It's still one of the only businesses in the country that offers this service.

"The demand for this stem-cell treatment is growing rapidly and it's going to grow even more rapidly," Frisbie said.

As Frisbie and Kisiday's client list has grown, so has their confidence in the procedure.

"We've turned something where more of our cases (when using surgery) were failures to where more of cases (when using stem-cell treatment) are successes," he said.

CSU researchers are also looking at ways to use stem cells to help revitalize bones damaged by radiation or other cancer treatments.

Goodrich says the continued use of stem cells on horses will benefit those looking to advance stem-cell treatment in humans.