Wednesday, September 12, 2012

NFL grants $100,000 to study PRP and Stem Cells for Tendon Disorders

The National Football League recently granted $100,000 to the Hospital for Special Surgery to study the effects of platelet rich plasma and stem cells on tendons.  The research will be conducted by Dr. Scott Rodeo, associate team physician for the New York Giants.  The focus will be to better understand the effects of different formulations of PRP in a preclinical model.  Specific evaluations of how PRP influences the tendon structure will be done.

This is important research that should help answer multiple questions.  Clinical studies to date have been variable in their outcomes.  The best available data today supports the use of PRP with white blood cells injected in an unactivated form for chronic tennis elbow.  We need to better understand the mechanisms underlying various forms of PRP in order to best apply it clinically.

We will all be most interested in following the results of their investigations.

See full article about research grant

Allan Mishra
TotalTendon
@BloodCure

Sunday, September 09, 2012

The Epicenter of Optimism


I am most fortunate to live in the Silicon Valley.  The climate is close to perfect except for the potential for an earthquake.  The United States Geologic Survey is located in the middle of the Valley and tracks seismic activity from all over the world.  (See real time earthquake map)  At some point, this area will have another big one.  Right now, however, hundreds of little quakes are occurring all over the bay area and they don't involve the shifting of tectonic plates.



Silicon Valley


People with indomitable self-confidence in a rainbow of colors populate the valley.  We are united by a goal of "changing the world".  It is not simply a cliche but truly a mantra.  Apple, Google, Twitter, and Intel are just a few of the transformative technology companies that were founded here.  It is important to note that other industries also contribute to the culture.  Genentech, the world's first biotechnology company was founded here over thirty-five years ago by a couple of dreamers that envisioned a world of genetically engineered medicines for challenging diseases such as diabetes.  That was science fiction back then and is reality now.   A new generation of visionaries seek to solve insanely difficult problems such as brain cancer.   (See story about how an eight year old's death continues to inspire Stanford researchers)  Other valley entrepreneurs seek to solve our energy problems via novel approaches to renewable sources or via electric cars such as Tesla.  Many more quixotic ideas will erupt from this fertile ground and inspire other ideas in near and distant lands.

Despite the recent economic difficulties, young, middle age and older people in this valley continue to search for and even demand dramatically better solutions to the most challenging problems of our time.  They embrace Les Brown's suggestion:  "Shoot for the moon.  Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars".  The valley is about 25 miles long and only three miles wide but truly is the epicenter of optimism.

Allan Mishra
@BloodCure
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