Extended Tissue Preservation for Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation
Degree: PhD Student
Start: Fall 2025 (potential to start as a research assistant in May 2025)
Supervisors: Adele Changoor (University of Toronto) and Judith Koenig (Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph )
Fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation is a surgical technique used to treat painful joints by replacing damaged cartilage with healthy tissue from a donor. In Canada, these surgeries are limited because donor tissue can only be preserved for 14 days using current methods. Our team has created a new storage medium that better simulates the native joint environment. Experimental studies in animal tissues suggest this method could extend storage duration up to four times longer than the current standard. This project aims to support clinical translation of the new medium by assessing its ability to preserve human tissues and by evaluating the long-term durability of donor tissues stored in the new medium. The study will involve multidisciplinary collaboration and includes working with a large animal pre-clinical model and applying a variety of techniques to analyze cartilage quality.
We are looking for a PhD candidate with a background in biomedical sciences, biomedical engineering, veterinary medicine or medicine, with an interest in articular joint health and a strong aptitude for research. The candidate will join a diverse team of scientists in engineering, veterinary medicine, and orthopedics and lead an advanced research project with strong potential for clinical application and opportunities for innovation.
Please send a CV and cover letter to: changoor@lunenfeld.ca
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