Johnny Huard, PhD, has been named chief scientific officer of the Steadman Philippon Research Institute and director of the institute's Center for Regenerative Sports Medicine.
Here are four things to know:
1. Dr. Huard is the former vice chair for musculoskeletal cellular therapeutics in the department of orthopedic surgery, as well as director of the Stem Cell Research Center and deputy director of cellular therapeutics research at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.
2. Dr. Huard will be establishing a regenerative and translational medicine institute in Vail, Colo., as part of his responsibilities at SPRI.
3. Dr. Huard's expertise is in the areas of gene therapy, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications based on the use of muscle-derived stem cells.
4. Marc Philippon, MD, co-chairman of SPRI said the team envisions each person having the opportunity to harvest their own stem cells re-injected into the body to help delay processes such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
"Dr. Steadman, who was finding ways to treat sports injuries through regenerative methods 25-years ago, laid the groundwork for those that followed him — including Dr. Philippon, who has made tremendous advances in the field of hip surgery," said Dr. Huard. "We have the opportunity to discover ways to further delay joint replacements and help patients at The Steadman Clinic recover faster and stronger."