Tendon and ligament injuries are depressingly common in horses and the lack of effective therapies has been highly frustrating.  Over the last three years, however, hundreds of these injuries have been treated using stem cells to help promote the regeneration of functional tendon tissue.

 

The primary source of the stem cells has been the bone marrow of the injured horse, extracted during a surgical procedure.  In addition to this source, however, recent research has shown that stem cells found in umbilical cord blood are as propitious as those from bone marrow. Stem cells stored at birth can therefore provide a potential “repair kit” in case of future injury or disease. The cryogenically stored cells remain viable for decades and are rapidly available without the need for a surgical procedure. 

 

Regenerative medicine is developing at an exciting pace and the range of conditions that can be treated using stem cells is expanding all the time; much current investigation is targeted at joint and bone disease.  The Royal Veterinary College, the University of Liverpool and the Japan Racing Association all have active stem cell research programmes.  VetCell will, in partnership with these and other institutions, harness this work to allow veterinary surgeons to tackle some of today’s career ending injuries and diseases.