Improving stem cell therapy for knee osteoarthritis
Official title: An Innovative Two-Step Therapeutic Strategy to Maximize the Effect of Stem Cell Therapy for Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis
Funded at Memphis VA Medical Center · NIH-11055332 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to make stem cell therapy work better for people with knee osteoarthritis by using special fat cells that are treated to stay healthy before being injected into the joint, and it's being tested in animals to see how well it helps.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Memphis VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX004283-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11055332 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from post-traumatic osteoarthritis, particularly those with a history of knee injuries.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with osteoarthritis not related to trauma or those who do not have knee joint involvement may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new two-step approach to enhance the effectiveness of stem cell therapy specifically for patients suffering from post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). The study focuses on using adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and aims to pre-treat these cells with antioxidants to protect them from inflammation and cell death before they are injected into the affected joint. By addressing challenges such as dosing and delivery, the researchers hope to improve the therapeutic outcomes for patients with knee osteoarthritis. The research utilizes animal models to test the efficacy of this innovative treatment strategy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for knee osteoarthritis, potentially improving joint function and reducing pain for patients.
How similar studies have gone: While stem cell therapy has shown promise in regenerative medicine, this specific two-step approach is novel and has not been extensively tested in similar contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
Memphis VA Medical Center
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cho, Hongsik Jake — Memphis VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Cho, Hongsik Jake
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.