Supporting the Future: Medical/Scientific Research
The Spine Hospital at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City |
Healing Back Pain with Regenerative Cell Therapy
Musculoskeletal diseases comprise an immense global health challenge, affecting nearly 2 billion people worldwide. Among these, back pain stands as the leading cause of disability in 160 countries. Despite this immense burden, research funding remains disproportionately low. The Spine Hospital at Mount Sinai is at the forefront of addressing this critical gap.
Led by Andrew C. Hecht, M.D., System Chief of Spine Surgery, the Spine Hospital champions a multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation and treatment of disorders of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. This provides a strong clinical foundation for the translational research conducted by Dr. Hecht and his principal scientific collaborator James C. Iatridis, PhD, Director of the Spine Research Program. Together, they have created a study with the goal of preventing disability and ending chronic back pain.
With support from the Bennink Foundation, the proposed study, “Develop Immunomodulatory Cell Therapy for Annulus Fibrosus Repair,” will explore how different immune and stem cell populations influence healing outcomes.
Annulus Fibrosus Repair
The project targets a fundamental challenge in spine health: the inability to fully repair tears in the annulus fibrosus, the tough outer ring of the intervertebral disc. These tears often allow the nucleus pulposus, the disc’s gel-like center, to protrude and compress nearby nerves, which are the primary cause of debilitating back pain.
Drs. Hecht and Iatridis are pioneering a cell therapy that promotes regenerative healing of the annulus fibrosus. This approach has the potential to halt spinal degeneration before it progresses and to prevent chronic pain in millions of patients.
Preliminary findings suggest that neonatal immune cells may significantly enhance healing in adult disc injuries. In fact, they may even outperform current stem cell therapies. This study will lay the groundwork for cellular engineering strategies that promise to change the treatment of spinal disorders.
By investing in this innovative research, the Bennink Foundation is helping to transform the future of spine care, potentially bringing hope to millions suffering from chronic back pain.
Musculoskeletal diseases comprise an immense global health challenge, affecting nearly 2 billion people worldwide. Among these, back pain stands as the leading cause of disability in 160 countries. Despite this immense burden, research funding remains disproportionately low. The Spine Hospital at Mount Sinai is at the forefront of addressing this critical gap.
Led by Andrew C. Hecht, M.D., System Chief of Spine Surgery, the Spine Hospital champions a multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation and treatment of disorders of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. This provides a strong clinical foundation for the translational research conducted by Dr. Hecht and his principal scientific collaborator James C. Iatridis, PhD, Director of the Spine Research Program. Together, they have created a study with the goal of preventing disability and ending chronic back pain.
With support from the Bennink Foundation, the proposed study, “Develop Immunomodulatory Cell Therapy for Annulus Fibrosus Repair,” will explore how different immune and stem cell populations influence healing outcomes.
Annulus Fibrosus Repair
The project targets a fundamental challenge in spine health: the inability to fully repair tears in the annulus fibrosus, the tough outer ring of the intervertebral disc. These tears often allow the nucleus pulposus, the disc’s gel-like center, to protrude and compress nearby nerves, which are the primary cause of debilitating back pain.
Drs. Hecht and Iatridis are pioneering a cell therapy that promotes regenerative healing of the annulus fibrosus. This approach has the potential to halt spinal degeneration before it progresses and to prevent chronic pain in millions of patients.
Preliminary findings suggest that neonatal immune cells may significantly enhance healing in adult disc injuries. In fact, they may even outperform current stem cell therapies. This study will lay the groundwork for cellular engineering strategies that promise to change the treatment of spinal disorders.
By investing in this innovative research, the Bennink Foundation is helping to transform the future of spine care, potentially bringing hope to millions suffering from chronic back pain.