Extended Abstract (for invited Faculty only) Cartilage /Cell Transplantation

1.3.4 - Surgeon vs Scientist Gap - The Scientist Perspective

Presentation Topic
Cartilage /Cell Transplantation
Date
12.04.2022
Lecture Time
12:18 - 12:23
Room
Bellevue
Session Type
Special Session
Speaker
  • L. Vonk (Teltow, DE)
Authors
  • L. Vonk (Teltow, DE)

Abstract

Introduction

This presentation will focus on my scientist perspective during my post-doctoral research at the University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Content

Part of my highlights consisted of providing academic “meet-the-patient” lectures and making other informative communications with patients1. These patients participated in an academic driven phase I / II clinical trial that investigated the safety and efficacy of a one-step combination of allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and autologous chondrons to treat cartilage defects (IMPACT - NCT02037204)2-4. A multidisciplinary team consisting of basic scientists, orthopaedic surgeon and researchers with experience in developing and manufacturing advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) took this research from scratch through non- and pre-clinical research to clinical trials5-7.

In such a multidisciplinary team members speak a different language, have different needs and views and here it is very important to understand each other and to get everyone on the same page. In addition, as a basic scientist, coming from a background in molecular biology, you find yourself in a whole new kind of research area (translational and clinical research). I went from cloning genes to patient reported outcome scores and cost-effectiveness studies. One must want to put in the effort to get to know this new field and also be able to identify opportunities to improve the quality and findings of the research. I enjoyed every part of this challenging and succesful journey and learned so much; not only on doing other types of research but also others skills with a supervisor and other team members with a completely different background.

References

1 https://youtu.be/7cb2cBoY9ro

2 de Windt TS, Vonk LA, Slaper-Cortenbach ICM, Nizak R, van Rijen MHP, Saris DBF. Allogeneic MSCs and Recycled Autologous Chondrons Mixed in a One-Stage Cartilage Cell Transplantion: A First-in-Man Trial in 35 Patients. Stem Cells. 2017 Aug 1;35(8):1984–93.

3 de Windt TS, Vonk LA, Slaper-Cortenbach ICM, van den Broek MPH, Nizak R, van Rijen MHPP, et al. Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells Stimulate Cartilage Regeneration and Are Safe for Single-Stage Cartilage Repair in Humans upon Mixture with Recycled Autologous Chondrons. Stem Cells. 2017 Jan 1;35(1):256–64.

4 Saris TFF, de Windt TS, Kester EC, Vonk LA, Custers RJH, Saris DBF. Five-Year Outcome of 1-Stage Cell-Based Cartilage Repair Using Recycled Autologous Chondrons and Allogenic Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: A First-in-Human Clinical Trial. Am J Sports Med. 2021;49(4):941–7.

5 Vonk LA, de Windt TS, Kragten AHM, Beekhuizen M, Mastbergen SC, Dhert WJA, et al. Enhanced cell-induced articular cartilage regeneration by chondrons; the influence of joint damage and harvest site. Osteoarthr Cartil. 2014 Nov 1;22(11):1910–7.

6 De Windt TS, Saris DBF, Slaper-Cortenbach ICM, Van Rijen MHP, Gawlitta D, Creemers LB, et al. Direct Cell–Cell Contact with Chondrocytes Is a Key Mechanism in Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Mediated Chondrogenesis. Tissue Eng Part A. 2015 Oct 1;21(19–20):2536–47.

7 Bekkers JEJ, Tsuchida AI, Van Rijen MHP, Vonk LA, Dhert WJA, Creemers LB, et al. Single-stage cell-based cartilage regeneration using a combination of chondrons and mesenchymal stromal cells: Comparison with microfracture. Am J Sports Med. 2013 Sep;41(9):2158–66.

Acknowledgments

As clearly mentioned in the content, this research was part of a multidisciplinary team and as part of that I would line to acknowledge Daniel Saris, Tommy de Windt, Ineke Slaper-Cortenbach, Jasmijn Korpershoek and Roel Custers

Collapse