Orthobiologic developer Bone Biologics said its rhNELL-1 product promoted bone formation in advanced spine models.

Developmental biologist Olivier Pourquié, PhD, identified a cellular segmentation clock-like mechanism in humans that controls spine development, The Harvard Gazette reports.

Ortho-biologics company Royal Biologics launched Magnus, a DMSO-free viable cellular bone allograft, the first of its kind to be DMSO-free.

NanoFUSE Biologics named Darren Lebl, MD, to its scientific advisory board.

Bioventus is partnering with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to provide its knee osteoarthritis treatments to Medicare Advantage and Commercial patients, beginning Jan. 1, 2020.

Here are nine key developments in stem cell research for spine this year:

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Helen DeVos Children's Hospital provided a $2.1 million gene therapy drug for spinal muscular atrophy to a one-year-old girl in November, reports Fox 47 News.

Dr. Conor Buckley, director of biomedical engineering at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, received a European Research Grant to study spinal regeneration on Dec. 10, reports The Irish Times.

Anika launched Tactoset, its new surgical therapy for bone repair procedures at the Orthopaedic Summit 2019: Evolving Techniques, which is taking place in Las Vegas, Dec. 11-14.

While biologic-based treatments have loads of promise when it comes to orthopedics, illegal actors are tarnishing the space and promoting false narratives that hurt scientific advances. 

ElevateBio appointed Melissa Carpenter, PhD, as chief scientific officer of regenerative medicine Dec. 9.

The FDA cleared EmCyte's Progenikine Concentrating System for adipose lipoplasty for procedures in several specialties including neurosurgery and orthopedics.

Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic is in the midst of analyzing a stem cell therapy for spine injuries, the Minneapolis StarTribune reports.

The Arthroscopy Association of North America, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, International Cartilage Repair Society and ON Foundation have partnered to form The Biologics Alliance.

The U.S. Department of Defense's Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program recently provided the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a $750,000 grant to study the NuCress scaffold's ability to combat infection while regenerating bone, reports Newswise.

SpineOvations initiated a pilot clinical study of DiscSeal in patients suffering from lumbar spine pain after recently receiving Australian regulatory approval.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is investing in research and development for biologics in a five-year initiative announced on Nov. 20.

The FDA approved Cerapedics premarket approval supplement for i-Factor in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedures in patients with degenerative disc disease.

Alok Sharan, MD, was recently appointed to the scientific advisory board at NanoFUSE Biologics.

Boston Sports and Shoulder Center installed the Sonimage HS1 compact ultrasound system and the Sonimage MX1 portable ultrasound system at its five practices in the Boston metropolitan area.