Olympic Hall of Fame Inductee Gary Hall Jr. Joins C3 International Board of Advisors – BioSpace

GARDEN GROVE, Calif., Dec. 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --C3International, a biopharmaceutical company that has played a leadership role in the emerging cannabinoid therapeutics health sector, today announced that Gary Hall, Jr. has joined the Board of Advisors for C3 International.

Gary Hall, Jr. is a healthcare-focused board member, patient advocate and key opinion leader with expertise in strategic alliance, marketing, clinical distribution, sports science, medical research and patient engagement. Hall has over 80 keynote presentations internationally, 10 Olympic medals in swimming and is an Olympic Hall of Fame Inductee. Using accomplishment in sports as a platform to advance diabetes advocacy for over 20 years, Gary amassed an influential network of policy makers, politicians, healthcare industry executives, diabetes care specialists, medical research, nutrition, philanthropic, sport, physical activity, obesity prevention, sports medicine and sports science organizations.

Gary has testified three times before Senate subcommittees on healthcare related issues and was a featured speaker at the 2016 Vatican hosted Cellular Horizons conference on stem cell therapy. He is the first recipient of USA Swimming's Humanitarian Award. One of his health community health initiatives was recognized at the Aspen Institute's Project Play Summit. He has presented at the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, American College of Sports Medicine, International Olympic Committee Medical Commission and National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute conferences.

Idrasil is the first standardized form of medical cannabis. It offers all of the medicinal analgesic and therapeutic benefits of cannabis but is a superior alternative to opiates and life-threatening narcotics because physicians and caregivers can provide patients with safe, non-addictive, measurable dosages.

"The health benefits of CBD seem apparent and C3 International is the only company I've found that has Cannabinoid in a divisible, consistently dosed tablet," said Gary Hall Jr. "It's an honor to join the team. I look forward to providing perspective on potential athletic and healthcare applications. Idrasil aims to be the worldwide leader in medical cannabis."

"We are incredibly excited to welcome such an influential medical activist like Gary Hall Jr. onto our Board of Advisors," said Steele Clarke Smith III, Chairman and CEO of C3 International. "Hall will bring his vast expertise to our innovative biopharmaceutical company and we can't wait to work with him!"

Conditions treated with Idrasil include, but are not limited to, AIDS; anorexia; arthritis; autism; anxiety/depression; cancer; chronic pain; glaucoma; migraines; persistent muscle spasms; Parkinson's; seizures; severe nausea; Tourette's Syndrome, and any other chronic or a persistent medical symptoms that substantially limit major life activities as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Idrasil consists of a proprietary blend of concentrated cannabis extract that is 100% natural and organic. C3's proprietary process isolates all of the cannabinoids from the cloned cannabis plant, resulting in pure natural extraction in pill form to eliminate the unwanted euphoria and social risks associated with smoking cannabis products and unpredictable dosages of edible confections. Idrasil is a natural product that looks like any pill on the market.

Idrasil is aseptically processed and bacteria-free with a manufacturing process that is FDA-compliant. Idrasil is manufactured in a sterile ISO 9001 certified laboratory with a standardized and consistent 12.5mg, 25mg, or 100mg dose pill. Idrasil is categorized by the FDA as Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS).

About Idrasil and C3 International

The mission of C3 International, Inc. is to manufacture the unique Intellectual Property for Idrasil, a major advancement in the standardization and administering of natural cannabinoids, in a tablet. Idrasil is a holistic alternative to addictive opiates and life-threatening narcotics, without euphoria. For more information on C3 International, Inc. visit http://www.c3internationalinc.com. To learn more about Idrasil, go to http://www.idrasil.com.

DISCLAIMER: THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. FURTHERMORE, NONE OF THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE SHOULD BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE ADVICE OF AN APPROPRIATELY QUALIFIED PHYSICIAN OR OTHER HEALTHCARE PROVIDER. THIS INFORMATION IS ONLY MEANT FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES.

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Celgene Gave This Tech Back to Editas Medicine, but It Could Prove Valuable – The Motley Fool

In the middle of November, Editas Medicine (NASDAQ:EDIT) and Celgene (NASDAQ:CELG) announced changes to a development pact originally formed in 2015 with Juno Therapeutics, which is now part of Celgene. The agreement was amended in 2018, too, so the fact that changes were made wasn't necessarily big news. Editas received a $70 million upfront payment for executing the amended agreement, which was interpreted as the main takeaway from the announcement.

The announcement barely registered with investors and few gave it much thought for too long, especially after promising early results from the first clinical trials using a CRISPR-based medicine were announced by CRISPR Therapeutics days later.

But revisiting the amended collaboration agreement, and specifically what changes were made, hints at the long-term development plans of Editas Medicine. In short, it now has full control over an important class of immune cells. Whether that means the gene-editing pioneer lands another major development partner or goes full-steam ahead alone, investors can't overlook the significance.

Image source: Getty Images.

The basic scientific goal of the collaboration hasn't changed. Editas Medicine will use its gene-editing technology platform to engineer T cell receptors (TCR), while Juno Therapeutics will leverage its immunotherapy leadership to develop the engineered cellular medicines in clinical trials.

Why engineer TCRs? Immune cells rely on their receptors to identify targets, such as pathogenic bacteria and cancer cells. But immune cell receptors can be confused by molecules secreted within the tumor microenvironment, forcing them to halt their attack. They can also incorrectly attack an individual's own cells to trigger an autoimmune disease. A more recent concern stems from cellular medicines derived from a donor. Since the donor cells present different receptors compared to what the recipient's native T cells carry, the recipient's immune system (correctly) identifies the immunotherapy as a foreign substance, attacks it, and renders it less effective and less safe.

Therefore, it makes sense to engineer TCRs to create more potent and stealthier immunotherapies that are less likely to be tricked. Editas Medicine and Celgene still intend to do just that, albeit with subtle, yet important, differences to their development agreement.

Consideration

Previous Agreement (2015, 2018)

Amended Agreement (2019)

Focus

Cancer

Cancer and autoimmune diseases

Types of cells

CAR-T cells, alpha-beta T cells, gamma-delta T cells

Alpha-beta T cells

Juno Therapeutics exclusivity

Editas Medicine prohibited from all other work with CAR-T and TCRs in oncology

Editas Medicine prohibited from all other work on alpha-beta T cells and T cells derived from pluripotent stem cells

Upfront payment

$57.7 million (includes milestones collected under agreement)

$70 million

Milestone potential

$920 million plus tiered royalties

$195 million plus tiered royalties

Data source: SEC filings.

Essentially, Editas Medicine and Celgene have scaled back their original agreement in cancer and expanded their work to include autoimmune diseases. The most important detail is that the amended agreement allows the gene-editing pioneer to pursue the development of gamma-delta T cells, which were previously under the exclusive control of Juno Therapeutics. What does that mean?

Image source: Getty Images.

Without getting too far into the weeds, there are two main types of TCRs: alpha-beta and gamma-delta. The name refers to the molecular structure of the receptor, but that's not the important part.

Gamma-delta T cells, which comprise only about 5% of the T cells in your body, are thought to be one of the missing links in our understanding of the immune system. They're a mysterious bunch, but there could be significant value residing in the knowledge gaps.

These unique immune cells are governed by their own unique set of rules (relative to their alpha-beta peers) and straddle the innate immune system (what we're programmed with at birth) and adaptive immune systems (what's programmed as we encounter new environments throughout life). Gamma-delta T cells could be tinkered with in gut microbiome applications, to treat cardiovascular diseases, and to neutralize antibiotic-resistant infections. But the nearest commercial target of the mysterious immune cells is likely to be treating solid tumor cancers.

They possess potent anti-tumor activity where current immunotherapies fail, such as attacking cancer cells that lack tumor-specific antigens to target or that have become immune to checkpoint inhibitors. In fact, there's a link between certain cancer outcomes and the activity of specific gamma-delta T cells.

Given that, why would Celgene amend the agreement to ditch the rare subset of immune cells? Well, in August 2019, Celgene inked with a start-up called Immatics to develop engineered TCRs. The start-up's platform is based on gamma-delta tech.

Don't feel too bad for Editas Medicine, though. SEC filings reveal that the gene-editing pioneer didn't receive any money from the original collaboration deal with Celgene in the first nine months of 2019. That suggests the work had stalled or that the amendment was being hammered out for some time. The gene-editing pioneer wrestled back control of the tech and took a $70 million upfront payment to boot. While the potential milestone payments in the amended agreement are significantly lower than the originally promised bounty, Editas Medicine can offset that by signing a lucrative collaboration deal with a new partner.

There should be plenty of interest. Fellow gamma-delta T cell developer Adicet Bio recently landed an $80 million series B round funded in part by Johnson & Johnson, Regeneron,Samsung Biologics(not the same company as the electronics powerhouse), and Novartis. There's also Immatics, GammaDelta Therapeutics, and a handful of other start-ups making noise in the space.

Some competitors are directly engineering gamma-delta cells, and others are developing molecules to trigger the immune cells into action. Editas Medicine believes it has the edge, as it has a relatively precise and efficient method for engineering immune cells: gene editing.

The amended collaboration deal between Editas Medicine and Celgene received relatively little attention from investors. Perhaps that was a good thing, as Wall Street likely would have overreacted to the reduced scope of development and milestones. But investors that take the time to understand the details might be intrigued by the new research avenue for the gene-editing stock.

Can Editas Medicine become a leading force in gamma-delta T cell development? Perhaps. While it isn't the only company wielding a gene-editing platform, and CRISPR gene editing isn't the only type of gene editing, the company is well-positioned to take advantage of the opportunity. Investors will have to wait to see how (or if) the development strategy evolves around the new tech.

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Celgene Gave This Tech Back to Editas Medicine, but It Could Prove Valuable - The Motley Fool

Jasper Therapeutics Raises $35M in Series A Financing – FinSMEs

Jasper Therapeutics, Inc., a Palo Alto, Calif.-based new biotechnology company, raised $35m in Series A financing.

The round was led by Abingworth LLP and Qiming Venture Partners USA with further investment from Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company) and participation from Alexandria Venture Investments, LLC.

Jasper Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on enabling safer conditioning and therapeutic agents that expand the application of curative hematopoietic stem cell transplants and gene therapies.

The company intends to use the funds to advance the clinical development of its lead product candidate, JSP191, which is designed to replace or reduce the toxicity of chemotherapy and radiation therapy as a conditioning regimen to prepare patients for hematopoietic cell transplant.Jaspers development of JSP191 is also supported by a collaboration with the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), which has been funding the program and is committed to providing a total of $23 million in grant support. As part of the Series A financing, Amgen, which discovered JSP191 (formerly AMG191), has licensed worldwide rights to Jasper that also include translational science and materials from Stanford University.

Jasper was co-founded by Judith Shizuru, M.D., Ph.D., a hematopoietic stem cell transplant expert at Stanford University, and Susan Prohaska, Ph.D., a Stanford University-trained immunologist, stem cell biologist and early-stage drug development professional. Dr Shizurus CIRM-funded lab advanced the understanding of the ability of anti-CD117 to impact hematopoietic stem cells and, together with the Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital Stanford and University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) pediatric transplant teams, was the first to study an anti-CD117 antibody in the clinic as a conditioning agent.That humanized antibody, now called JSP191, was first studied for conditioning for transplant in immune-deficient patients in collaboration with Amgen, UCSF and CIRM.

JSP191 is currently being evaluated in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial as a conditioning agent to enable stem cell transplantation in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) who received a prior stem cell transplant that failed.

The founding management team of the company includes: William Lis, Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jeet Mahal, M.B.A., M.E., M.B., Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer, Susan Prohaska, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Vice President of Operations & Program Management, Wendy Pang, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Director, Discovery Research, and Early Clinical Development, Robert Sikorski, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Consultant and Acting Chief Medical Officer.

Dr. Shizuru and Mr. Lis are joined on the Jasper Therapeutics Board of Directors by Kurt von Emster, Managing Partner of Abingworth LLP, and Anna French, Ph.D., Principal at Qiming Venture Partners USA. Dr. Prohaska is a Board observer.

FinSMEs

07/12/2019

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Jasper Therapeutics Raises $35M in Series A Financing - FinSMEs

Addressing Disparities in Cancer: Factors Influencing Care, Access and Outcomes – OncoZine

In their March 2006 report, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) showed overwhelming evidence of the existence of health related disparities for racial and ethnic minorities. The reports definition of cancer health related disparities refers to the unequal treatment of patient population groups the difference in treatment or access not justified by the differences in health status or preferences of the groups on the basis of race, ethnicity, and sometimes on the basis of gender, socioeconomic status, age or other patient characteristics.[1]

Over the last decade multiple medical societies and governmental agencies have studied the cause of cancer health disparities as well as attempted to identify solutions to the problem.

Five different studies being presented during the 61st annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), held December 7 10, 2019 in Orlando, Florida, paint a mixed portrait of how demographics and socioeconomic status affect access to clinical trials and effective treatments for patients with blood cancers.

Some studies show encouraging evidence that racial minorities and older patients receive similar benefits compared to cancer treatments other patient groups receive. However, other studies show that their are still significant gaps in terms of care access and outcomes, underscoring the urgent need for renewed efforts to address disparities.

Inclusion is not only the right thing to do for our patients and our community its also the right thing to do if our goal is to create medicines that are truly targeted, noted Laura Michaelis, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin.

Clinical trialsBut the studies go beyond traditional healthcare. What is, for example, the impact of clinical trial inclusion criteria on cancer health disparities?

Based on data from a number of clinical trials, inclusion and exclusion criteria can become too restricting, limiting patient access. Other studies demonstrate that some of these criteria may result in the systematic exclusion minorities and older patients.

Our ability to achieve tailored treatments and prevention relies on including a wide and heterogeneous spectrum of individuals in clinical trials, Michaelis noted.

We have an obligation to recruit people who are traditionally absent from trials, including groups such as women, older people, minorities, people living in poverty, and people who are chronically ill or who have comorbidities, she concluded.

Socioeconomic Disparities in Survival of ChildrenA study by Lena E. Winestone, MD, MSHP and colleagues, at UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital in San Francisco, shows that children from poorer neighborhoods were 2.4 times more likely to die during treatment for acute myeloid leukemia or AML than children from middle and high-income neighborhoods. [2]

The results of the study, funded by National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI), are based on an analysis of nearly 1,500 clinical trial participants. While previous research has pointed to racial disparities in cancer survival, the new study is the first to identify socioeconomic status as a key contributor to disparities among children with AML who were enrolled in clinical trials.

These findings are especially alarming because clinical trials are designed to provide consistent treatment across all participant groups. The fact that disparities were found despite the rigorous setting of clinical trials suggests that these disparities arise from a variety of factors outside of the specific chemotherapeutic therapy used.

We expected there to be a difference, but the degree of difference is quite substantial, Winestone, who is the lead study author, noted.

The more people are cognizant about the disparities that exist, the better positioned well be to ameliorate them, he added.

Researchers at UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital and the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia examined clinical trial data from children enrolled on two recent AML trials, AAML1031/NCT01371981 and AAML0531/NCT01407757, and used U.S. Census data to determine the median income and educational attainment in patients neighborhoods. [2]

They found that neighborhood socioeconomic factors were significant predictors of survival, even after accounting for insurance type, race, and known biologic risk factors.

While about 68% of patients from middle or high-income areas survived for five years following diagnosis, that proportion was 61% among patients from low-income areas and just 43% among patients living in poverty.

A significantly higher proportion of Black and Hispanic patients lived in poverty, low income, and low education areas. Researchers found that the racial disparity persisted even after accounting for neighborhood socioeconomic factors, suggesting Black patients face a significantly higher risk of death than white children living in areas of the same socioeconomic level.

The study did not determine the reasons behind the increased risk of death.

However, Winestone noted that one possibility is that toxic stress, which has been linked with lower socioeconomic status, may impact responses to chemotherapy or immune recovery following chemotherapy.

The researchers plan to further examine when patients died and the cause of death in the hopes of gaining insights as to whether the risks are connected to treatment-related causes or to the cancer itself.

Winestone also pointed out that in addition to drawing attention to persistent racial and socioeconomic disparities in cancer outcomes, the results also highlight potential additional data to be collected as part of clinical trials.

Rather than relying on neighborhood data as a proxy, she explained, it would be helpful if future clinical trials collected individual data on participants socioeconomic status at the time of enrollment.

If we could gather that information, it would allow us to dig deeper into the question of how someones circumstances outside of the clinical aspects of their disease impact their health outcomes, Winestone concluded.

Racial Disparities and comorbidities and/or organ dysfunctionA study of more than 1,000 patients with AML revealed that African Americans were more likely to have evidence of abnormal kidney functioning than whites, but this was not associated with any difference in overall survival. [3]

The findings have implications for the design of clinical trials, which typically exclude patients with signs of kidney dysfunction and may, as a result, disproportionately, and unnecessarily, exclude minorities from participating in clinical trials.

Its important that we understand how drugs work in different patient populations in clinical trials, especially those that reflect the patients we will eventually treat with the drug, said lead study author Abby Statler, Ph.D, of Cleveland Clinic.

Designers of clinical trials can use data from studies like ours to inform future eligibility criteria in order to test drugs in more diverse populations, Statler further noted.

Clinical trials test the effectiveness of new treatments and identify any safety concerns before a drug can be sold on the market. Trials often seek to enroll patients who have only a few health problems (called comorbidities)other than the one being studied. This approach makes it easier to tell if study outcomes are related to the use of the experimental drug rather than influenced by a patients other health conditions or medications. However, because patients in racial minorities may, on average, have more comorbidities, this practice may disproportionately exclude these individuals from clinical trials. As a result, the population of trial participants does not reflect the real-world diversity of the patient population who will ultimately receive the investigational drug following regulatory approval.

In this study, researchers examined health records from 1,040 AML patients receiving care at Cleveland Clinic from 2003-2019. They found no significant differences between African American and white patients in treatment approaches, rates of responsiveness to treatment, or overall survival, suggesting that treatments worked just as well in African Americans as whites.

However, the study demonstrated that African Americans were significantly more likely to have abnormal creatinine and creatinine clearance, signs that the kidneys are not clearing waste products from the bloodstream as effectively as they should. However, this abnormality may be benign, as previous studies suggest African Americans have higher creatinine levels than whites. Consequently, this laboratory value may falsely underestimate this subpopulations kidney function, causing them to fail study enrollment requirements that require normal creatinine or creatinine clearance values.

The researchers observed that patients with minor creatinine or creatinine clearance abnormalities showed no differences in overall survival. This, they noted, calls into question the necessity of excluding patients with these abnormalities from AML trials.

The study, Statler noted, also bolstered evidence that African Americans may simply have higher baseline creatinine levels than white patients.

These findings suggest trials might be able to broaden their criteria to include patients with kidney disease without compromising the safety of the participants, said Statler.

In doing so, we might be able to truly improve the number of patients from minority populations who are potentially eligible for trials but who would have been excluded for that reason alone, she said.

The study also examined markers for a variety of comorbidities including endocrine, gastrointestinal, liver, cardiovascular, and neurological functioning. Of these, liver dysfunction was the only comorbidity that was associated with diminished survival. The researchers plan to further examine the data to determine precise kidney function cutoff points for future clinical trial eligibility criteria.

Statler concluded that in addition to AML the study findings could be relevant to designing trials for other cancers, particularly prostate cancer, which disproportionately affects African American men.

A Hands-On ApproachA study of 182 patients treated for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) at a safety net cancer center reports that non-white patients had similar health outcomes to white patients. The findings contrast previous population-based studies pointing to racial disparities in lymphoma outcomes and suggest possible steps tertiary centers can take to help close the gap. [4]

Researchers at the Levine Cancer Institute study found no significant differences between racial groups in terms of overall survival or survival without disease progression at two years. Racial groups also had similar rates of relapse, stem cell transplantation, and clinical trial enrollment. While the study does not indicate a specific reason for the lack of disparities, researchers suggest historically underserved patients may have benefited from hands-on assistance through the institutions patient navigator program, which was used by 85% of patients in the study.

The scientific literature shows that racial minorities tend to have poorer outcomes in lymphoma and several other diseases, and we wanted to know if that holds true at our institution, said senior study author Nilanjan Ghosh, MD, Ph.D, of Levine Cancer Institute.

We found that minorities do not have worse outcomes for DLBCL if the disease is optimally managed, which requires that all patients have access to care. It shows that if you work on addressing socioeconomic barriers, you can get equal results.

The centers patient navigator program is designed to help patients address logistical barriers to keeping appointments and staying on track with their cancer treatment.

For example, navigators can help patients who are homeless take advantage of lodging that is available for patients undergoing cancer treatment. They can also help arrange transportation for patients without a car. And navigators can help coordinate care across providers such as primary care physicians, oncologists, and other specialists.

Analyzed data related to patients treated for newly diagnosed DLBCL between 2016-2019, the researchers noted that about four out of five patients identified themselves as white. On average, 73% of non-white patients identifying themselves as African American and 15% identified as Hispanic.

White patients were significantly more likely to have private health insurance and less likely to have government insurance or no insurance than non-whites. In addition, white patients were slightly older than non-white patients.

Despite the differences in health insurance type, the researchers also found that white and non-white had similar rates of overall survival (74% and 81%, respectively) two years after diagnosis, as well as similar rates of progression-free survival (60% and 63%, respectively). Treatment regimens and outcomes for those with relapsed or refractory DLBCL were, according to the researchers, also similar among groups.

Age Should Not Be a BarrierEven though autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT), a form of stem cell therapy, is an effective treatment for multiple myeloma, only four out of 10 patients receive this therapy. A new study by Anita DSouza, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin, and colleagues demonstrated that AHCT is safe and effective in older patients and suggests that more people could benefit from the therapy than have typically been offered it. [5]

Older people are often excluded from clinical trials studying transplant because they tend to have a greater number of health issues. Without trials proving newer, aggressive treatments are safe for older patients, doctors may avoid them on the assumption that they are too risky. In addition to showing AHCT is safe and effective in patients over 70 years of age. The researchers also found patients fared better when given the conditioning chemotherapy drug melphalan (Alkeran) in the normal dose of 200 mg/m2, rather than the reduced dose of 140 mg/m2 often given to older patients.

This study shows that you can perform these transplants safely in older patients, and the older patients get the same benefits from these treatments as the younger patients do, DSouza, who is the studys lead author, noted.

In addition, if there are no contraindications other than simply age, its worth trying the higher dose of melphalan. Age alone should not be a reason to automatically reduce the dose, DSouza added.

According to DSouza, the study strengthens the argument that people should not just be excluded from clinical trials based on age alone. Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer, and it occurs most often in older adults. Half of patients are age 70 or older at the time of diagnosis.

Using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) database, the researchers examined health records of approximately 16,000 patients who received AHCT with melphalan in the United States between 2013-2017.

After adjusting for factors such as functional status, comorbidities, and disease stage, they found patients who received their treatments at age 70 or older had similar rates of relapse or disease progression, progression-free survival, and death not caused by a cancer relapse as those 60-69 years of age.

Of patients age 70 and older, about 40% received the full dose of melphalan and 60% received a reduced dose. Those receiving the reduced dose had significantly worse outcomes and lower survival rates. However, DSouza noted that it is impossible to determine whether these patients were also more frail to begin with, in which case their poorer outcomes would not necessarily be due to the dosing reduction.

While AHCT specialists often support the use of AHCT in otherwise healthy older patients, DSouza noted that oncologists in community hospitals where many patients are first treated often fail to refer older patients to transplant centers. The researchers noted a significant increase in the proportion of older patients receiving AHCT in 2017 compared to 2013, suggesting that referrals to AHCT specialists increased over time.

In addition to age disparities, the study also speaks to important racial disparities in the care of patients with myeloma, a disease which is twice as common in African Americans as whites. Yet AHCT rates are significantly lower among black patients, which made DSouza concluded that age likely adds to the barriers for these patients.

CAR T-cell therapy Reduces Health Care Utilization in Older PatientsA new analysis of Medicare claims data offers the first real-world evidence using claims data available after the approval of autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, a type of immunotherapy. [6]

These analyses, Karl M. Kilgore, Ph.D, of Avalere Health observed, shows that CAR T-cell therapy may be beneficial for a broad population of older patients with DLBCL, including those with multiple chronic conditions. The research also shows patients spent less time in the hospital and had lower health care costs after CAR T-cell therapy than they did in the months leading up to it.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first CAR T-cell therapy for adults with DLBCL in 2017. However, many of the patients included in the clinical trials leading up to that approval were middle-aged, with a median age of 56-58. This study used the earliest available Medicare claims data to assess the treatments use in Medicare patients age 60 and older, who comprise the majority of Medicare beneficiaries and often have multiple chronic health issues.

Our findings offer evidence that older patients with multiple comorbidities can be treated successfully with CAR T-cell therapy, Kilgore, who is the lead study author, said.

While we dont know the long-term outcomes yet, nearly three-quarters of the patients were still alive six months post-treatment. Even in that narrow window of time we saw a significant decline in health care utilization including hospitalizations and emergency room use, which is suggestive of a successful course of treatment, Kilgore concluded.

DLBCL, a cancer that starts in the white blood cells, accounts for about one-third of the 74,000 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed in the United States each year. About 63% of patients survive for five years after their diagnosis. For those who relapse or have refractory disease, treatment options include chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, and CAR T-cell therapy. CAR-T works by re-engineering a patients own T-cells, part of the immune system, to kill cancer cells. Multiple steps are required to collect, modify, and re-infuse T-cells into the patient, a process that is typically combined with lympho-depleting chemotherapy and a single infusion of the patients modified T-cells.

The researchers analyzed claims data from patients enrolled in Medicare Fee For Service parts A and B October 2017-September 2018. They identified 207 patients with an average age of 70 years who had undergone CAR T-cell therapy for DLBCL. Half underwent CAR T-cell therapy as part of a clinical trial, while the remainder had comorbidities that likely would have excluded them from CAR T-cell clinical trials.

Comparing health care utilization in the six months before and after CAR-T therapy, the researchers found patients average overall health care costs dropped by 39% after undergoing CAR-T, excluding the cost of the CAR-T treatment itself. In the months following CAR-T, patients spent less time in the hospital and had half as many emergency department visits than before the therapy.

Only 7.2% had any evidence of subsequent chemotherapy in the claims data, suggesting that the cancer had not returned within the first six months following CAR T-cell therapy for most patients.

Clinical trialsBortezomib and Sorafenib Tosylate in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia NCT01371981Study of Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin Therapy in DNA Samples From Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treated on COG-AAML0531 NCT01407757

Reference[1] McGuire TG, Alegria M, Cook BL, Wells KB, Zaslavsky AM. Implementing the Institute of Medicine definition of disparities: an application to mental health care. Health Serv Res. 2006;41(5):19792005. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6773.2006.00583.x [Abstract][2] Winestone LE, Getz KD, Bona KO, Fisher BT, Gamis AS, Seif AE, Sung L, Wang YC, Alonzo TA, and Aplenc R. Area-Based Socioeconomic Disparities in Survival of Children with Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Report from the Childrens Oncology Group. 61st annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. Program: Oral and Poster Abstracts. Type: Oral Session: 906. Outcomes ResearchMalignant Conditions (Myeloid Disease): Quality of Life, Late Effects, and Prognostic Factors in Myeloid DiseasesHematology Disease Topics & Pathways: Diseases, AML, Pediatric, Study Population, Clinically relevant, Myeloid Malignancies. [Abstract][3] Statler A, Hobbs BP, Radivoyevitch T, Mukherjee S, Bell K, Advani AS, Gerds AT, Nazha A, Patel BJ, Carraway HE, and Sekeres MA. Are Racial Disparities in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Clinical Trial Enrollment Associated with Comorbidities and/or Organ Dysfunction? 61st annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. Program: Oral and Poster Abstracts. Type: Oral Session: 903. Health Services ResearchMalignant Conditions (Myeloid Disease): Cancer Care Delivery and Quality of Life in Myeloid Malignancies | Hematology Disease Topics & Pathways: Diseases, AML, Adult, Study Population, Myeloid Malignancies [Abstract][4] Hu B, Chen T, Boselli D, Bose R, JSymanowski JT, Raghavan D, Soni A, Park SI, Avalos BR, Copelan EA, Jacobs R, Ghosh N. Minorities Do Not Have Worse Outcomes for Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) If Optimally Managed. 61st annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. Program: Oral and Poster Abstracts. Type: Oral. Session: 905. Outcomes ResearchMalignant Conditions (Lymphoid Disease): Mountains Conquered, Challenges Remain: Survivorship and Disparities in the Hematologic Malignancies. Hematology Disease Topics & Pathways: Adult, Diseases, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, DLBCL, Study Population, Clinically relevant, Lymphoid Malignancies, Quality Improvement.[Abstract][5] Munshi PN, Hari P, Vesole DH, Jurczyszyn A, Zaucha J, Davila O, Kumar SK, Shah ND, Qazilbash MH, DSouza A. Breaking the Glass Ceiling of Age in Transplant in Multiple Myeloma. 61st annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. Program: Oral and Poster Abstracts. Type: Oral Session: 731. Clinical Autologous Transplantation: Results: Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation: Lymphoma and Plasma Cell Disorders | Hematology Disease Topics & Pathways: Adult, Study Population. [Abstract][6] Kilgore KM, Mohammadi I, Schroeder A, Teigland C, Purdum A, Shah GL. Medicare Patients Receiving Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: A First Real-World Look at Patient Characteristics, Healthcare Utilization and Costs. 61st annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. Program: Oral and Poster Abstracts. Type: OralSession: 905. Outcomes ResearchMalignant Conditions (Lymphoid Disease): CAR T and Novel Therapies Coming of Age: Real-World and Patient-Centered Outcomes. Hematology Disease Topics & Pathways: Diseases, Biological, Therapies, CAR-Ts, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, DLBCL, Lymphoid Malignancies. [Abstract]

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Addressing Disparities in Cancer: Factors Influencing Care, Access and Outcomes - OncoZine

Interview: Shaping the future – The Actuary

Futurist Ray Hammond talks to Stephen Hyamsabout revolutions in healthcare, the future of work and cryptocurrencies

05 DECEMBER 2019 | STEPHEN HYAMS

Ray Hammond has a long record of accurate foresight about the future, such as identifying the coming importance of the internet shortly after its launch.

How did he become a futurist?

It happened by accident, he says. After finishing with journalism, I wanted to become a writer. During a small book tour in San Diego, I met the well-respected futurist Alvin Toffler. We kept in touch and he encouraged me to broaden out beyond technology, which was then my focus, to understand the way that todays trends may shape reality in 10 to 20 years time.

The future of health

Hammond is excited by the current revolutions in healthcare, of which he expects digital health to havethe earliest impact. Within 10 to 15 years, perhaps30% of hospital inpatients will be at home in bed but monitored so thoroughly that its almost as if they were in the hospital, he says. A team of mobile nurses will take care of their physical needs. Its also going to have a profound impact on the way drugs are developed, because drug companies can use the data that flows back from digital devices to learn how were responding. Eventually, it will be as if every patient is taking part in a real-time clinical experiment.

DNA-based and stem cell medicine will also play a significant role during the next five to 10 years. For privacy reasons, it will take a while for people to accept having their DNA stored., says Hammond. For many people, DNA stands for do not ask. Once the benefits of DNA analysis are understood fully, the word will spread and, with full consideration for privacy and data protection, DNA-based medicine will be an enormously powerful tool. He cites the detection of genetic abnormalities in the earliest stages of embryonic development during pregnancy as an example.

Its early days for stem cell medicine, but Hammond predicts that it will become very important within 10 years. It seems to have so many applications, a bit like penicillin, and promises to deal with lots of diseases that are currently intractable. Using stem cells from ones own body avoids the risk of rejection. Im certain that in 10 years time we will be taking organs off the shelf, or theyll be grown to order for us.

Hammond believes two other healthcare revolutions will have longer-term implications. The first is nanoscale medicine, which he believes will have a huge impact, but not for another 20 years. Manipulating molecules at the nanoscale level will enable the production of drugs designed to produce specific proteins that are tailored for certain illnesses. Nanoparticles are currently being developed for the targeted delivery of drugs, while there is some research involving nanoparticles that seeks to develop a vaccine for influenza. Hammond believes the other healthcare revolution will be in gene editing to enable removal of damaging pieces of DNA from a patients tissue but care is needed to avoid it affecting the germline, for fear of unintended consequences.

Healthcare outlook

What will be the collective impact of these developments? During the next 20 to 30 years they will transform healthcare, and I think it is likely we will see a return to higher rates of mortality improvements in the UK, following the period of lower rates seen during the past few years.

Hammond is excited by two recent pieces of research into anti-ageing, one of which removes senescent cells from the body. These cells are widely believed to contribute to ageing. The other work involves therapyto reprogram genes to reverse the ageing process.

In human trials, there have been some startling achievements in a single year, 70% to 80% of the patients had their biological clock reversed by two and a half years, he says. The results were so stunning that the researchers have easily been able to raise the money to carry out much wider trials. Until a year ago, I was highly sceptical about rejuvenation and life extension, but not any longer. By 2030 or 2040 I think we could see some patients extending their lives as healthy centenarians. Within the next 20-30 years, Hammond also thinks that most types of cancer will be controllable, as opposed to being cured.

How can we meet the cost of healthcare for an ageing population? During the next 10 years it will be a problem, but there are indications that things will improve significantly, mostly thanks to digital technology, says Hammond. The key is 5G networks, which will be super-fast and reliable, with instant, real-time responses and no bandwidth problems. This will facilitate distributed care, in which many patients are monitored from their homes, thereby taking the pressure off hospital space. The healthcare revolutions will mean fewer people in hospital, and for less time.

The collection and analysis of healthcare data is developing fast, and it must remain secure for people to remain comfortable in providing it. Could insurers seek to use the data for underwriting purposes? There are currently legal barriers to the discriminatory use by insurers of DNA information, while they are also no longer allowed to ask the catch-all question of whether there is any other information that would be relevant.

Digital monitoring devices will not be for everyone, while those who do use them will need clear instructions explaining that they are not fully accurate and no substitute for proper medical advice.

Robotics will have developed to the point where most of the non-medical tasks in a hospital are handled by machines, Hammond says. For example, a robot nurse in triage could perform standard tests before passing the patient to a doctor, if necessary. Remote robotic surgery will also become very efficient oneeye specialist in London might be treating people anywhere in the UK, or around the world. Another interesting development is the growing use of virtual reality as an alternative to conventional anaesthetic.

Technology and work

Will robotics and automation put jobs at risk? During the next 15 years, there will be a lot of disruption in the workplace, says Hammond. Peoples roles will change, and retraining will be needed, but there will still be a lot of demand for human employment. After that period, Im not so sure; by the mid-2030s I think robots will be so ubiquitous, powerful and capable that a lot of human endeavour will not be needed. Robots will be increasing productivity to such an extent that society will have enough money to give to people who are not employed.

Such a fundamental change brings challenges, though. For many people, work is part of their identity, and when theyre denied it an important part of their life disappears, Hammond says. I dont have the answerto that, but Im worried.

Part of the solution is to recognise and pay for carers in the family, and Hammond predicts there will still be plenty of demand here. Robots will empathise and form attachments, but when real help or comfort is needed,I think well want a human for the foreseeable future.

I ask about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI)on replacing human work. Today AI is, at best, as intelligent as a rodent. I think it will be at least 30 years before AI is a threat to humanity in terms of its decision-making capabilities.

Cryptocurrencies and cash

Hammond expects blockchain technology, invented for the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, to have a huge and wide-ranging impact. Blockchain will be everywhere for example, managing patients in hospitals, or the assets and policies of an insurance company. The biggest drawback is its high energy demand, but there have been recent breakthroughs in that respect.

Cryptocurrencies do not need an issuing bank or government to authenticate them, as they are self-authenticating, so this poses a threat to the conventional banking industry and national sovereignty over finance, he continues. I dont see it happening on a big scale within 10 years, but in the longer term, if political will allows, there is no doubt that cryptocurrencies will replace fiat currencies.

Does this signal the end of cash? In my 1983 book Computers and Your Child I predicted there would be no cash in society by the year 2000, Hammond says.I was looking at the technology, and in that respect my prediction could have been correct, but I was forgetting human psychology. People like to feel they hold cash.I think cash will still be around in 10-15 years, but very much reduced.

I conclude by asking Hammond what his biggest concern for the future is. Climate change, with the extreme weather events that are going to become more frequent and severe and continue for at least the next30-40 years.

What excites him the most? The continuing improvement in human health. I love the idea of looking to a future where most serious illness is eradicated, with far less human suffering.

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Interview: Shaping the future - The Actuary

Cobalt Chloride Induced Apoptosis by Inhibiting GPC3 Expression via th | OTT – Dove Medical Press

Yaoyao Tong,1,2 Kun Tong,1,2 Qinghong Zhu,1 Yuqin Wu,3 Yi Yang,4 Jicai Zhang,1 Pei Hu,1,5 Shirong Yan2

1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, Peoples Republic of China; 2Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, Peoples Republic of China; 3Department of Central Operating Room, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, Peoples Republic of China; 4Reproductive Medicine Centre, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, Peoples Republic of China; 5Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, Peoples Republic of China

Correspondence: Shirong YanHubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, No. 30, South Renmin Road, Maojian District, Shiyan City, Hubei Province, Peoples Republic of ChinaEmail graceyan@163.comPei HuDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, No. 32, South Renmin Road, Maojian District, Shiyan City, Hubei Province, Peoples Republic of ChinaEmail hupei2018@taihehospital.com

Purpose: To investigate the role of glypican-3 (GPC3) in cobalt chloride (CoCl2)-induced cell apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with CoCl2 in the absence or presence of GPC3 plasmid transfection. Cell viability and apoptosis were assessed by MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression of GPC3, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), c-myc, sp1, poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and caspase-3 was determined by real-time PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence after the cells were treated with different concentrations of CoCl2 or siRNA targeting HIF-1.Results: CoCl2 significantly inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells and induced apoptosis. Additionally, the expression of GPC3 mRNA and protein was decreased, and overexpression of GPC3 attenuated the tumour inhibiting effects. Further studies showed that CoCl2 increased the expression of HIF-1 while reducing the expression of sp1 and c-myc; knockdown of HIF-1 elevated the expression of GPC3, sp1, and c-myc.Conclusion: CoCl2 inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells through downregulation of GPC3 expression via the HIF-1/c-myc axis.

Keywords: cobalt chloride, c-myc, glypican-3, hepatocellular carcinoma, hypoxia-inducible factor 1

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Cobalt Chloride Induced Apoptosis by Inhibiting GPC3 Expression via th | OTT - Dove Medical Press

First UK Clinical Trial Site Open for Recruitment of Diabetic Patients with Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia Using Novel Patient-Specific…

London, UK, 4 December 2019:The first UK clinical trial site for the treatment of diabetic patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLI) using a novel patient-specific regenerative therapy has opened for patient recruitment at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. The site will be evaluating Rexgeneros REX-001 in two Phase III trials, codenamed the SALAMANDER trials. The trials are being led by Mr Ian Williams, a Consultant Vascular Surgeon and the Principal Investigator at the site.

The University Hospital of Wales is participating in the trials through a consortium, the Midlands-Wales Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre (MW-ATTC), part of the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre Network (ATTC) which aims to bring pioneering advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) to patients. THE MW-ATTC has been working in collaboration with the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board to progress the initiation of the two SALAMANDER trials and is planning to activate new clinical trial sites in the Midlands in England shortly.

CLI is a chronic disease and the most serious form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a common condition in which a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries reduces the blood flow to the legs and feet. CLI is characterized by chronic ischemic at-rest pain, ulcers or gangrene in one or both legs. CLI is a common condition in Europe and the United States affecting 1-1.5% of the population aged over 401. It represents an area of high unmet medical need as there are currently no approved therapies that successfully treat the CLI patient population. Patients with CLI have a very negative prognosis. A year after initial diagnosis, around 12% of patients have had an amputation. Five years after diagnosis the situation is even worse with mortality at 50%, rising to 70% after ten years2.

REX-001 represents a new class of regenerative medicines. It is an autologous cell therapy manufactured using the patients own bone marrow and consists of immune cells (lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes) and progenitor cells involved in immune modulation and tissue regeneration. It is administered as a single dose within 4 days after collection of bone marrow cells.

Ian Williams, Consultant Vascular Surgeon and Principal Investigator commented,Chronic limb-threatening ischemia is a serious disease with severe consequences and limited treatment options. There is a high unmet need for novel and innovative therapiessuch as REX-001that have the potential to be a highly effective treatment and to reduce amputation and mortality rates amongst the patient population.

Chris Fegan, Consultant Haematologist, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said, We have brought together many highly specialized teams from diabetes, surgery, radiology and stem cell transplantation to participate in the pioneering SALAMANDER study here at Cardiff and Vale, which we hope will revolutionize treatment options for patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia.

Rexgenero, the company pioneering the development of REX-001, says that the experimental product has already demonstrated efficacy in Phase I/II studies. In the Phase II clinical trial, 82% of patients with non-healing ischemic ulcers were healed within the first 12 months after a single administration dose of REX-001.

Joe Dupere, CEO of Rexgenero added, Treating our first patient with REX-001 in the UK will be an important milestone for our Phase III program in diabetic patients with chronic-limb threatening ischemia, a severe condition with high unmet need. With clinical trial sites and manufacturing bases now open across multiple countries in Europe, we are one step closer to completion of the Phase III studies and potential regulatory and market approval for an innovative and much-needed product.

Rexgenero is planning to treat a total of 60 patients with CLI and rest pain and 78 patients with CLI and non-healing ischemic ulcers in two independent Phase III SALAMANDER trials in approximately 25 hospitals across Europe.In addition to the trial sites in the UK, Rexgenero is also recruiting patients for both trials at sites inSpain, Austria, Portugal, Poland, Hungary, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.

For more information about the REX-001 Phase III SALAMANDER trials, and how to participate, please visit theclinical trial website.

References

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

At Rexgenero

For media enquiries (Rexgenero)

Joe Dupere, CEO+44 (0)20 3700 7480info@rexgenero.com

Instinctif PartnersAshley Tapp+44 (0)20 7866 7923Rexgenero@instinctif.com

At the University Hospital of Wales

Cardiff and University Health BoardCommunications Team+44 (0)29 2074 6381news@wales.nhs.uk

About Rexgenero

Rexgenero is a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company developing innovative cell-based therapies targeting serious diseases with unmet medical needs.

The Companys lead candidate, REX-001, is a highly innovative autologous cell therapy that is being studied in a Phase III clinical programme in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLI) with diabetes, a poorly treated disease with a high risk of amputation and death. REX-001 has been shown to be effective in Phase I/II and Phase II trials, alleviating CLI in the majority of patients, offering the potential to increase the quality of life of CLI patients by reducing pain, alleviating ulcers, increasing mobility, improving sleep and reducing the need for amputation. Rexgenero is developing REX-001 in a range of indications and, pending approval, intends to launch and market this specialty product in major territories.

Rexgenero is a privately-owned company, which draws on an exceptional understanding of the fundamental science of cell therapies developed by the Andalusian Health Authority (Servicio Andaluz de Salud) and Andalusian Initiative of Advanced Therapies.

The Company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in London (UK) with R&D and manufacturing operations in Seville (Spain) and Frankfurt (Germany).

For more information, please visit:www.rexgenero.com

Connect with us: Twitter:@_Rexgenero; LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/rexgenero-limited/

About the REX-001 Phase III SALAMANDER Trials

REX-001 has shown efficacy in 70% of patients in Phase I and I/II studies and is currently progressing through two Phase III SALAMANDER trials in Europe being conducted at approximately 30 sites, with plans to enrol a total of 138 patients. The trials are given the name SALAMANDER in reference to the amphibians ability to regenerate its tail and limbs.

ThePhase III studyin patients with Rutherford stage 4 CLI will assess the efficacy and safety of REX-001 with a primary endpoint of complete relief of ischemic rest pain.

ThePhase III studyin patients with Rutherford stage 5 CLI will assess the efficacy and safety with a primary endpoint of complete ulcer healing.

Amputation-free survival is included as a secondary endpoint in both studies. The trials are expected to produce interim analysis in early 2021 with full results expected later that year; all dependent on the speed of patient recruitment.

For more information about the REX-001 Phase III SALAMANDER trials, please visit:https://www.cli-treatment.com

About the Midlands and Wales Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre (MW-ATTC)

The Midlands and Wales Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre (MW-ATTC) consists of a large regional network with the necessary commercial and NHS infrastructure required to facilitate the delivery of advanced therapy treatments to patients. The centre includes a wide range of specialists in advanced therapy manufacturing including academic and commercial partners, logistics companies, specialists in clinical trial delivery and teams focussed on IT solutions and health economics.

For more information, please visit:https://www.theattcnetwork.co.uk/centres/midlands-wales

The ATTC Network Programme is a world-first, UK system of Advanced Therapy Treatment Centres (ATTC) operating within the NHS framework and coordinated by the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult to address the unique and complex challenges of bringing pioneering advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) to patients. The centres include Innovate Manchester Advanced Therapy Centre Hub (iMATCH), Midlands-Wales Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre (MW-ATTC, comprising Birmingham, Wales and Nottingham) and Northern Alliance Advanced Therapies Treatment Centre (NA-ATTC, comprising Scotland, Newcastle and Leeds).

The network is initially supported by the Industrial Challenge Strategy Fund with the aim to develop first-of-a-kind technologies for the manufacture of innovative medicines across areas including blindness, cancer, heart failure, liver disease, neurological conditions and rare paediatric diseases.

For more information, please visit:https://www.theattcnetwork.co.uk/

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First UK Clinical Trial Site Open for Recruitment of Diabetic Patients with Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia Using Novel Patient-Specific...

Medicine Against Bone Disease Found in the Leaves of Saussurea – Global Health News Wire

Bacterial bone infections are quite resistant to antibiotics and require new therapeutic approaches. A team of researchers from Kant Baltic Federal University discovered the ability of an extract from the leaves of Saussurea controversa to considerably reduce inflammatory processes and increase immune response in cases of osteomyelitis. The results of the study werepublishedin theMoleculesjournal.

Saussurea controversa is a perennial herbaceous plant that has been traditionally used by the people of the Far East, Siberia, Tibet, and Mongolia to treat liver, kidney, digestive tract, and locomotive diseases. Its dried leaves are sold in pharmacies because their decoction is widely used as a medicine against cold and bronchitis. To understand what substances this plant owes its medicinal properties to, a team of scientists from Siberian State Medical University and Tomsk Polytechnic University extracted individual components from the plant and determined their composition. To do so, they passed the substances in gas form through a special station. As the substances were of different size, it took them different time to pass through it. The useful components of the decoction included flavonoids and polysaccharides. These groups of substances are known for their antimicrobial properties and the ability to speed up bone tissue regeneration. Flavonoids are small aromatic molecules, while polysaccharides are high molecular weight hydrocarbons. However, both have a positive effect on bone tissue regeneration.

Infectious locomotive diseases are considered one of the most difficult to treat. The microorganisms that attack bone tissue are often resistant to antibiotics. The restoration of the bone also plays an important role in the healing process. Medics from BFU suggested using Saussurea extract to treat bone tissue infections and tested its ability to affect stem cells. To do so, the extract of Saussurea leaves was added to the substrate with such cells. The growth of the cell culture slowed down under the influence of plant polysaccharides. It turned out that Saussurea did not stimulate the division of stem cells, but made them turn into bone tissue. This was confirmed by specific colouring.

To test the antibacterial properties of Saussurea, the team from BFU added the extract of its leaves into substrate with Staphylococcus aureus. These bacteria cause such deadly diseases as osteomyelitis, endocarditis, pneumonia, and sepsis. Moreover, they are highly resistant to a wide range of antibiotics making the therapy long and complicated. The experiment showed the decrease of S. aureus growth in the substrate with Saussurea compared to a control group.

The isolated components have antimicrobial and regenerative properties. Our plan is to participate in the development of a medicinal drug for comprehensive treatment of bone diseases and injuries associated with the risk of infectious complications. Plant materials are less toxic. They can be administered as regular pills making the treatment much easier, concluded Larisa Litvinova, MD, a head of the Basic Laboratory for Immunology and Cell Biotechnologies, Professor of the Department of Fundamental Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Kant Baltic Federal University.

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Medicine Against Bone Disease Found in the Leaves of Saussurea - Global Health News Wire

Will We Live to Age 120? International Expert Weighs in at Danbury Event – HamletHub

Emerging medical research and cutting-edge technology will dramatically increase human life expectancy and quality of life in the near future, according to a recent fireside chat titled How Do We Make 100 Years Old Our New 60? hosted by Bob Reby, Ambassador of the Fairfield- Westchester Chapter of Singularity University and CEO of Reby Advisors, with special guest Sam Gandy, MD, Ph.D., a prominent internationally recognized expert in neurology and psychology.

Anyone interested in learning more about these medical breakthroughs may watch a video of the event for free on the Reby Advisors website: http://www.rebyadvisors.com/live-events-videos

Dr. Gandy, Chairman Emeritus of the National Medical and Scientific Advisory Council of the Alzheimer's

Association shared new research on human stem cells, genetic codes and the complex hereditary nature of Alzheimers Disease, among other topics.

With regard to stem cell research, Dr. Gandy explained, Its possible now to restore sight and hearing in certain conditions. This was not possible before. These are people who were deaf and blind, doomed to being deaf and blind lifelong.

He continued, Stem cells are the primordial type of cell that can ultimately be differentiated or specialized to form any type of cell in the body. If you have a stem cell from someone, you can then recreate the heart cells or lung cells or brain cells that a particular person has. It can really [lead to] person-based medicine.

Reby also brought up the topic of CRYSPR Genome Editing, and the potential of this research to be used for both good and harm.

CRYSPR is basically gene editing, which means that you can go into the DNA and make changes, edits. If you want to eradicate genetic diseases, it's possible to use this technology to go into an egg, or a sperm, and correct the mutation. So, you could edit out a hereditary disease.

As futuristic as these advancements in medical technology and genetic engineering may be, finding the cure for some complex diseases, like Alzheimers, remains a major challenge.

Most people with Alzheimer's Disease, it's not that simple. The challenge is to find an intervention that we can use beginning in midlife that is safe and will prevent Alzheimer's. Some of the ways that we have of intervening now are not perfectly safe and would not be things that you'd want to give people for 50 years.

The fireside chat was the first event for the Fairfield-Westchester Chapter of Singularity University, a global learning and innovation community using exponential technologies to tack the worlds biggest challenges and build a better future for all.

According to Reby, future events will focus on artificial intelligence, robotics and other exponential technologies. He explained, The reason I like [Singularity University] is their faculty is made up of a lot of business owners, so theyre not just talking about it. Theyre doing it as well.

Community leaders, business owners and technology enthusiasts are encouraged to contact Reby

Advisors if they would like to participate in the Fairfield-Westchester Chapter of Singularity University.

To watch the video of this first event, go to: http://www.rebyadvisors.com/live-events-videos

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Will We Live to Age 120? International Expert Weighs in at Danbury Event - HamletHub

100 hospitals and health systems with great orthopedic programs | 2019 – Becker’s Hospital Review

Laura Dyrda and Angie Stewart - Wednesday, December 4th, 2019Print|Email

The hospitals featured on Becker's Hospital Review's 100 hospitals and health systems with great orthopedic programs list for 2019 have earned recognition for quality of care and patient satisfaction for orthopedic and spine surgery.

Many are high-volume centers where surgeons annually perform hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of total joint replacements, in addition to less complex musculoskeletal surgeries. Theseprograms highlighted have rich histories of innovation and have won grants to research musculoskeletal treatments. The centers also include robust nonoperative services and provide care to professional and elite athletes in their communities.

Our editorial team accepted nominations for this list and took several rankings and awards into consideration, includingU.S. News & World Reportrankings for adult and pediatric orthopedics. The team also considered CareChex rankings, Healthgrades awards, Leapfrog, Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center designation, The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval and hospitals' reputations for innovation in orthopedic care.

Note: Hospitals and health systems cannot pay for inclusion on this list, and organizations are listed in alphabetical order.

For questions or comments about this list, contact Laura Dyrda atldyrda@beckershealthcare.com.You can nominate a hospital or health system for the 2020 list here.

Abbott Northwestern Hospital (Minneapolis). The Orthopaedic Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital includes specialists in joint replacement, spine surgery and sports medicine. The hospital's joint replacement center has a 90 percent patient satisfaction rating of good to excellent care and has earned the Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement designation from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The hospital, a member of Allina Health, ranks among U.S. News & World Report's top 50 hospitals for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20. The hospital's surgeons perform around 4,000 orthopedic procedures annually.

Atrium Health (Charlotte, N.C.). The Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute has 10 locations systemwide and an orthopedic residency top ranked by Doximity. It is a collaboration with more than 200 physicians involved in more than 20 externally funded research trials. It is also part of the Major Extremity Trauma and Rehabilitation Consortium, with more than 7,000 patients enrolled across 18 projects. The health system, which includes 40 hospitals and 900 care sites, has had hospitals ranked among the top orthopedic programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and supports research and clinical trials for new orthopedic treatments.

Banner Health (Phoenix). Banner Health's orthopedic program spans hospitals in Phoenix, Tucson and Northern Colorado. The health system partners with Phoenix-based The CORE Institute and the Banner CORE Center for Orthopedics to streamline the continuum of care. The center includes orthopedic surgeons as well as integrated services such as inpatient and outpatient therapy. The two groups have a history together, partnering on co-management agreements and joint ventures on outpatient clinic locations.

Baptist Health Care / Andrews Institute (Pensacola, Fla.). The Gulf Breeze, Fla.-based Andrews Institute, an affiliate of Baptist Health Care, was founded by renowned orthopedic surgeon James Andrews, MD, who treats elite athletes. The institute has 34 physicians on staff and provides care at nine locations. The Andrews Institute is also designated a Blue Distinction Center+ for knee and hip replacement surgery from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and received an 'excellent' rating in the third year of participating in Medicare's Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement quality performance category. Many of the physicians also participate in the Andrews Research and Education Foundation, which received a $1 million grant from the state for two consecutive years to support its research into regenerative medicine.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital (St. Louis). The orthopedic department at Barnes-Jewish Hospital includes team physicians for the St. Louis Blues and Washington University athletics, in addition to other local teams. It supports joint replacement and preservation, spine and sports medicine as well as orthopedic concierge services. The National Institutes of Health has granted the orthopedic surgery departments research funding for its projects, which include basic science and clinical research. The hospital has earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for hip and knee joint replacement and its surgeons perform more than 1,100 procedures annually.

Baystate Medical Center (Springfield, Mass.). Baystate Medical Center's orthopedic services include the Baystate Orthopedic Surgery Center and services from New England Orthopedic Surgeons. The practice includes 18 physicians and 180 employees who focus on spine, sports medicine and joint replacements. The hospital has computer-assisted technology for orthopedic procedures.

Beaumont Hospital (Royal Oak, Mich.). Beaumont Hospital's orthopedic surgeons perform around 8,500 joints per year, typically using minimally invasive techniques. It also serves as a learning institution, and surgeons come from around the nation to its Applebaum Simulation Learning Institute for training in new techniques. U.S. News & World Report ranked Beaumont Hospital among the top 30 orthopedic hospitals in the nation. The hospital's clinicians also focus on research, including basic science studies and FDA clinical trials. Areas of interest for research include biomechanics, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and joint wear simulation.

Bethesda North Hospital (Cincinnati). Bethesda North Hospital Orthopedics, part of TriHealth, has had the Anthem Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement recognition and Aenta's Institute for Quality Orthopedic Care for Total Joint Replacement honor since 2010. TriHealth's Orthopedics & Sports Institute, which has locations at multiple system hospitals, earned the first Joint Commission Gold Seal Award for advanced hip and knee certification and its physicians serve professional athletes for the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals.

Boston Children's Hospital. Surgeons and clinicians at Boston Children's Hospital attend to more than 100,000 patient visits and perform 6,000 surgeries annually. The hospital's orthopedics department dates to 1903 and has now grown to include 13 specialty clinics and urgent care facilities throughout Massachusetts. The hospital also supports the Orthopedic Center's Research & Innovations Department, which includes a focus on spine surgery and joint preservations. The hospital is a leader in hip preservation surgery, having performed more than 1,200 periacetabular osteotomies. Its sports medicine injury clinic also includes 40,000 patient visits per year. For 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital No. 1 for pediatric orthopedic care.

Boston Medical Center. Boston Medical Center's department of orthopedic surgery is affiliated with Boston University School of Medicine and works with the specialists to provide orthopedic care and support research in the orthopedic space. The department includes 11 orthopedic and trauma surgeons that focus on joint replacements, spine and fracture care.

Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston). The department of orthopedic surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital traces its roots to 1980 and has since grown to include around 40 orthopedic surgeons who specialize in joint reconstruction, sports medicine and spine, among other subspecialties. The department is also dedicated to education and trains around 60 orthopedic residents per year. The hospital's surgeons also engage in research through the Musculoskeletal Research Center within the Brigham Research Institute for cross-collaborative projects.

Carilion Roanoke (Va.) Memorial Hospital. Carilion Clinic supports the orthopedic services at multiple locations of the Institute for Orthopaedics and Neurosciences, including at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The academic orthopedic practice has more than 50 trained providers and pioneers minimally invasive techniques. Carilion Clinic surgeons perform more than 1,500 hip and knee replacements annually and have maintained The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for quality care award since 2007. The organization also has a robust sports medicine team that performs more than 12,000 surgical procedures per year and cares for athletes at six colleges and universities.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles). Cedars-Sinai supports the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute, which includes team physicians for the Los Angeles Clippers and Rams. NRC Health voted Cedars-Sinai No. 1 for quality medicine in Los Angeles and U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital No. 3 in the nation for orthopedics in 2019-20. Cedars-Sinai also focuses on medical training, and more than 600 medical students apply for its orthopedic residency program each year.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles. The Children's Orthopaedic Center at CHLA has programs in spine, hip preservation and sports medicine. The sports medicine specialists are also physicians for the L.A. Galaxy professional soccer team and have access to the John C. Wilson, Jr. Motion and Sports Analysis Laboratory. The center includes surgical and non-surgical specialists at the main hospital as well as five outpatient locations. U.S. News & World Report ranked Children's Hospital Los Angeles among the top five hospitals in the nation for pediatric orthopedics in 2019-20.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The division of orthopedics at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia includes 31 orthopedic surgeons focused on specialties from spine to sports medicine and joint pain. The program has served pediatric patients into adulthood for more than 120 years and its specialists also engage in research about treating pediatric orthopedic conditions. U.S. News & World Report ranked Children's Hospital of Philadelphia among the top five hospitals in the nation for pediatric orthopedics.

Children's Medical Center Dallas - Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is dedicated to pediatric orthopedic cases as well as children with neurological disorders. The hospital includes six centers of excellence known for providing innovative solutions to spine care, limb lengthening and other disorders. The hospital is also committed to research to develop new solutions for scoliosis treatment, concussion management and other conditions. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top five in the nation for pediatric orthopedics in 2019-20.

Christ Hospital (Cincinnati). The Christ Hospital Health Network Joint & Spine Center provides care for patients with simple and complex orthopedic conditions. It has 87 private inpatient rooms, 12 outpatient rooms and space for physical and occupational therapy. The health system also offers bundled services for select spine and joint replacement procedures through its centers of excellence program. Individuals and employers can pay one fixed cost for procedures that include the episode of care as well as postoperative therapy. The health system also has three outpatient surgery centers focused on orthopedic and spine procedures, with the most recent having opened in January 2018.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. The division of orthopedics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital focuses on patients with fractures, scoliosis, neuromuscular conditions and more. The division has 14 orthopedic surgeons who are also involved in research as a core tenet of their professional mission. The research includes microbiology and biomechanics as well as improvements to clinical care. U.S. News & World Report named Cincinnati Children's Hospital among the top five hospitals in the nation for pediatric orthopedics in 2019-20.

Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic's orthopedic surgeons focus on simple and complex joint procedures. They perform more than 7,000 hip, knee, shoulder, ankle, elbow, wrist and finger replacements per year. Cleveland Clinic also has among the highest volume of patients in the nation for severe osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis as well as trauma. Cleveland Clinic's Orthopaedic & Rheumatologic Institute has around 168 clinicians, including physicians. U.S. News & World Report ranked two Cleveland Clinic hospitals among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2019-20.

Duke University Hospital (Durham, N.C.). Duke University Hospital's department of orthopedic surgery includes 83 orthopedic faculty and 40 orthopedic residents. The academic medical center also has 17 orthopedic clinical fellows and 29 research trainees. The orthopedic department treated 175,824 patients in 2017, the last data available, and performed 16,440 procedures. U.S. News & World Report ranked Duke University Hospital among the top 25 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20.

Emory University Hospital (Atlanta). Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center is the official sports medicine provider for the Atlanta Hawks, Braves, Falcons and Harlem Globetrotters. The hospital broke ground in October on the new Emory Musculoskeletal Institute in Brookhaven, Ga., a 180,000-square-foot, LEED-certified building designed for orthopedic and spine cases. The new building is expected to open in 2021 and provide more environmentally friendly care.

Erlanger Health System (Chattanooga, Tenn.). Erlanger Orthopaedic Institute's surgeons are on the faculty of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and participate in clinical trials for joint replacement and fracture care. The health system also has a Bone Health Clinic and Ortho Symposium. The Joint Commission granted Erlanger Orthopaedic Institute its Gold Seal of Approval as a Certified Center of Excellence for Primary Hip and Knee Replacements.

Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center. The Orthopedic Institute at Hackensack University Medical Center has more than 50 physicians and healthcare professionals on staff. The institute's Center for Joint Replacement offers tailored care plans for patients, and 96 percent of patients are able to stand or walk on the same night as their procedure. The health system boasts a 1.9 percent 30-day readmission rates for orthopedic patients, and 80 percent of them are discharged home. U.S. News & World Report named Hackensack University Hospital among the high performing hospitals for knee and hip replacement in 2019-20. Healthgrades also rated it among America's 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery and Joint Replacement.

Hoag Orthopedic Institute (Irvine, Calif.). Hoag Orthopedic Institute was developed through a partnership between Orange County physicians and Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. The hospital has 70 beds and nine operating rooms dedicated to orthopedics. HOI also has more than 300 specialty physicians, including 93 orthopedic surgeons. In 2018, the hospital reported 5,509 orthopedic surgeries while HOI's ASC performed 12,454. The hospital participates in bundled payments for orthopedics and reports a 1.4 percent complication rate for total hip and knee replacements, well below the 2.5 percent national average.

Hospital for Special Surgery (New York City). Hospital for Special Surgery has been ranked the top hospital in the nation for orthopedic surgery by U.S. News & World Report for the past 10 years, most recently in 2019-20. Founded in 1863, the hospital focuses on orthopedics and rheumatology, and its surgeons perform more than 32,000 procedures per year. It is also the highest volume hip and knee replacement hospital in the nation. The hospital also focuses on innovation, opening the HSS Research Institute, which comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members dedicated to musculoskeletal health. HSS physicians hold faculty appointments at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, instructing residents in musculoskeletal health.

Houston Methodist Hospital. Surgeons at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine perform more than 20,000 orthopedic procedures per year. The staff have more than 100 years of experience in orthopedics, including minimally invasive techniques. The health system's sports medicine physicians are the official healthcare providers for the Houston Texans and Houston Astros. U.S. News & World Report named Houston Methodist Hospital among the top 15 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20.

Huntington Hospital (Pasadena, Calif.). Huntington Orthopedics Institute participates in the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model from CMS. It has been recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. U.S. News & World Report also recognized the hospital in 2019-20 for musculoskeletal care, ranking it among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics.

Indiana University Medical Center (Indianapolis). The IU School of Medicine's department of orthopedic surgery was established in 1948 and has grown into a full academic department with a research arm that receives $5.4 million in funding, with another $3.5 million pending. NIH recently provided a $1.8 million grant to the department to study mobile compression devices that would prevent deep vein thrombosis after knee replacement surgery. The orthopedic department includes 32 full-time faculty as well as 29 graduate students and 50 supporting staff.

Inova Mount Vernon Hospital (Alexandria, Va.). Patients from across the U.S. travel to Inova Mount Vernon Hospital for orthopedic care. The hospital's surgeons perform more than 2,000 hip, knee, shoulder and ankle replacements annually. The Inova Joint Replacement Center earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for outstanding care in joint replacement and is a UnitedHealthcare Center of Excellence for Joint Replacement.

Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore). Founded in 1900, the Johns Hopkins department of orthopedic surgery has evolved to include joint replacements, spine, trauma and sports medicine. The specialists are also focused on research and participate in clinical trials as well as basic and translational research. U.S. News & World Report named Johns Hopkins Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20.

John Muir Health (Walnut Creek, Calif.). Quality and transparency are important aspects of the orthopedics program at John Muir Health. It participates in the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement program, a five-year bundled payment program making it responsible for the quality and cost of care. It also offers voluntary participation in the California Joint Replacement Registry, which tracks results for total hip and knee surgeries to provide better care to patients in the future. The health system is designated as Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and its Walnut Creek (Calif.) Medical Center is ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report for 2019-20.

Keck Hospital of USC (Los Angeles). The department of orthopedic surgery at Keck Hospital of USC has a mission to provide quality care and educate the next generation of orthopedic surgeons. Its orthopedic surgeons are also focused on research, including investigations into stem cell therapy for cartilage repair and biomechanical research. The Epstein Family Foundation also donated $10 million to name the USC Epstein Family Center for Sports Medicine in 2018; the center serves athletes in the community and physicians at the center serve as official doctors for USC Trojan athletes.

Lahey Hospital and Medical Center (Burlington, Mass.). Lahey Hospital and Medical Center has collected data on total joint replacement patients since 1988 and conducts academic reviews of the data to improve the care delivery process. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association has designated the hospital a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement and serves as the teaching hospital for Boston University's Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Training Program. Orthopedic surgeons from its sports medicine center treat professional and amateur athletes.

Lehigh Valley Health Network (Allentown, Pa.). The Centers for Orthopedic Medicine at Lehigh Valley Health Network includes fellowship-trained joint replacement and sports medicine surgeons. The physicians lead a team of 400 experts across specialties and sports performance. It has earned the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Blue Distinction Center+ for hip and knee replacements and Aetna's Institute of Quality in orthopedics. U.S. News & World Report also ranked Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2019-20.

Loyola Medicine (Maywood, Ill.). Loyola Medicine takes a multidisciplinary approach to orthopedic care. The health system reports around 85 percent to 90 percent of knee replacement surgeries performed there are successful for 10 years or more. The system also has a robust sports medicine department with team consultants for major associations, including the U.S. Soccer Federation and U.S.A. Hockey.

Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston). Surgeons in the department of orthopedic surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital treat the full spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions, seeing more than 80,000 patients each year. Spine, trauma and joint replacement specialists treat patients at Massachusetts General, which also has a robust sports medicine department that is home to the team physicians for the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots and Boston Bruins. U.S. News & World Report ranked Massachusetts General Hospital among the top 10 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20.

Mayo Clinic Health System (Rochester, Minn.). Mayo Clinic is a national leader in orthopedics, with more than 80 orthopedic surgeons spanning its locations in Rochester, Phoenix, and Jacksonville, Fla. The W. Hall Wendel Jr. Musculoskeletal Center at Mayo Clinic's flagship campus in Rochester opened in 2007 and includes 57 exam rooms as well as an outpatient surgical center and ancillary services. Its surgeons also have a mission for education, traveling internationally to train surgeons as well as working with residents and fellows. U.S. News & World Report ranked Mayo's locations in Rochester and Phoenix among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20.

MedStar (Columbia, Md.). MedStar Orthopaedic Institute has more than 80 physicians and 20 locations across the health system's coverage area. Its specialists focus on minimally invasive treatments and have earned The Joint commission's advanced certification in hip, knee and spine surgery. U.S. News & World Report also ranks two MedStar hospitals as high performing in knee replacement. The health system has a robust sports medicine program and serves as the official medical providers for the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards and Baltimore Orioles.

Memorial Hermann (Houston). Memorial Hermann's orthopedic services include the Memorial Hermann Joint Centers, offered at eight locations across the system, as well as the Ironman Sport Medicine Institute at four locations focusing on athletic training, biomechanics and sports injuries. The Joint Center physicians perform around 3,000 hip and knee replacements annually. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association has also designated Memorial Hermann Southwest a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. The health system also includes the Memorial Hermann Orthopedic & Spine Hospital, which has 64 patient rooms and 10 surgical suites. The Center for Advanced Orthopedics at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center is a 90,000-square-foot facility where surgeons perform more than 4,100 orthopedic surgeries per year.

MemorialCare (Laguna Hills, Calif.). MemorialCare has a broad orthopedic program across its health system, with the Saddleback Medical Center earning a spot on the U.S. News & World Report's top 50 hospitals for orthopedics in the U.S. for 2019-20. Saddleback reports a 98 percent success rate for orthopedics and earned the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association designation for joint replacements. Beyond offering innovative clinical care, the health system offers research and clinical trials for orthopedic patients and earned the Aetna Institutes of Quality for total Joint Replacement distinction.

Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute at Baptist Hospital of Miami. Baptist Health South Florida's Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute cares for the Miami Heat and Miami Dolphins and Florida Panthers. Established at Doctors Hospital, Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute is a 281-bed acute care facility that also sees adult and pediatric trauma patients. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20.

Morristown (N.J.) Medical Center. Atlantic Health System's Morrison Medical Center is known for innovative orthopedic procedures and equipment. The hospital's surgeons perform more than 4,000 joint replacements each year at the Atlantic Orthopedic Institute, using robotics and gender-specific technology. The system also partners with Atlantic Health System Children's Health and Goryeb Children's Hospital to provide pediatric orthopedic care. The health system is also the official healthcare partner of the New York Jets. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report named Morristown Medical Center among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery.

Mount Sinai Hospital (New York City). Mount Sinai Health System's orthopedic services are spread across locations throughout the metropolitan New York City area. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 20 hospitals for orthopedics in 2019-20. It also earned The Joint Commission's Advanced Certification in total hip and knee replacement. Mount Sinai is also recognized for its sports medicine expertise, having served as the official medical service provider for the U.S. Open for seven consecutive years. Mount Sinai is home to a center dedicated to serving former NFL players and providing joint replacement to the players.

MUSC Health University Medical Center (Charleston, S.C.). MUSC Health Sports Medicine offers medical coverage or consultation services to several elite athletes and athletic teams including the Charleston Battery, a Class A affiliate of the New York Yankees, and the Women's Tennis Association Volvo Car Open. The hospital is also designated a Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery and Hip and Knee Replacement. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Children's Hospital among the top hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery.

New England Baptist Hospital (Boston). New England Baptist Hospital has spent the past 30 years as the official hospital of the Boston Celtics, providing orthopedic care and other services for the players and their families. It also has a history of innovation, as one of the first hospitals in the country for surgeons to perform total joint replacement. NEBH has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Certification for total hip and total knee replacement.

NewYork-Presbyterian (New York City). NewYork-Presbyterian Orthopedics provides a full range of surgical services as well as pioneering spinal procedures at The Spine Hospital. The orthopedics department has more than 150 years of history and has grown to include a surgical volume of 10,900 procedures as of 2016, including 3,475 hip and knee procedures and 3,509 spine procedures. It is also a level 1 adult advanced trauma center and serves as the official hospital and orthopedic physicians for the New York Yankees and New York City FC. The health system's orthopedics department is also busy with research; the National Institutes of Health provided grants to Columbia Orthopedics, a partner of NewYork-Presbyterian, totaling more than $3.3 million.

NorthShore University Hospitals (Evanston, Ill.). The Orthopaedic & Spine Institute at NorthShore University Hospitals includes more than 100 specialty trained physicians who are dedicated to practicing innovative care. The health system includes computer-aided technology for surgical procedures and utilizes regenerative medicine in the NorthShore Orthopaedic & Spine Institute to treat patients. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 15 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20.

Northwell Health (New Hyde Park, N.Y.). Northwell Health Orthopaedic Institute focuses on minimally invasive techniques for procedures, including joint replacements and has robotic technology for knee and hip procedures. Several of its hospitals have earned The Joint Commission's disease-specific certification for joint replacements and U.S. News & World Report recognition. In 2017, the health system partnered with Philadelphia-based Rothman Institute to provide additional orthopedic coverage, and 10 Rothman surgeons currently practice at Phelps Hospital Northwell Health.

Northwestern Medicine (Chicago). Northwestern Medicine has a robust orthopedics program that includes joint replacement, spine surgery and sports medicine. U.S. News & World Report ranked two of the system's hospitals Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20. At the system's flagship hospital, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, physicians perform more than 7,000 orthopedic surgeries per year.

NYU Langone Health (New York City). The NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital provides both inpatient and outpatient surgery for adult and pediatric patients. The hospital's surgeons have provided more than 1,500 outpatient total joint replacements and earned a spot on the U.S. News & World Report top 10 hospitals for orthopedics and rheumatology in 2019-20. NYU Health's Winthrop Hospital was also ranked in the top 50 hospitals for orthopedics by U.S. News for the past year. The health system's department of orthopedic surgery is also focused on research and innovation, offering physicians and scientists to opportunity to collaborate on improving outcomes for the more than 20,000 orthopedic procedures performed by the system's specialists each year.

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (Columbus). The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is on the forefront of minimally invasive orthopedic procedures and provides comprehensive care for patients. Its specialists are involved in clinical trials examining injury outcomes, ACL tear treatment and bone tumors. The hospital is a level 1 trauma center and includes robotic technology for knee and hip surgery procedures.

OHSU (Portland, Ore.). OHSU orthopedic specialists focus on minimally invasive procedures and rely on innovative research and technology to differentiate from other joint replacement programs in the region. The health system includes three joint replacement surgeons as well as sports medicine, spine and trauma physicians. OHSU's Orthopedics and Rehabilitation department also focuses on research into topics such as stem cells, tissue engineering and spinal fusion enhancements. OHSU is a level 1 trauma center and is ranked as high performing in orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20.

OrthoIndy Hospital (Indianapolis). OrthoIndy Hospital is a physician-owned hospital with three locations focused on orthopedic surgery. The hospital has earned five-star recognition from Healthgrades for joint replacement excellence, spinal fusion surgery and total hip and knee replacement in 2020. Press Ganey Associates also honored the hospital as a Guardian of Excellence Award winner for achieving the 95th percentile of performance from 2009 to 2019. OrthoIndy serves as the official orthopedics providers for the Indiana Pacers as well as Butler University and other local athletic teams.

OrthoNebraska Hospital (Omaha). OrthoNebraska Hospital is a physician-owned hospital with 21 physician owners. The hospital has created raving fans among those it treats; in a survey of Medicare patients, 92 percent said they would recommend OrthoNebraska Hospital, compared with 72 percent at the national average. The hospital takes a customized approach to joint replacements and earned recognition as a Nebraska Center of Excellence for knee and hip replacements by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska. The hospital's physicians and specialists also cover athletic events throughout the state.

Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin (Glendale). Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin is a member of Ascension Wisconsin and serves patients from across the state. Since being established in 2001 as a joint venture between a group of orthopedic surgeons and Columbia St. Mary's Ascension, the hospital has added services and expanded into a larger location. More recently, it ranked in the top 1 percent of hospitals for overall patient satisfaction, as measured by Press Ganey, and earned the Top 100 Workplaces award from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel from 2013 to 2019. The physician-owned hospital participates in Medicare's value-based purchasing program and provides physical therapy and athletic training for UW Milwaukee.

Penn Medicine (Philadelphia). Penn Medicine's orthopedic department is devoted to research, innovation and patient care. The department's surgeons have access to the McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory to collaborate on projects; it has more than 100 research personnel and six principle investigators focusing on musculoskeletal tissue engineering, bone metabolism and cancer-associated bone disease and mesenchymal stem cell maintenance. The health system is also home to the current president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Kristy Weber, MD, who serves as the chief of the system's sarcoma program. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report ranked Penn Medicine Lancaster (Pa.) General Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics.

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (Hershey, Pa.). Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center includes the Center for Orthopaedic Research and Translational Science as well as the Bone and Joint Institute and Spine Center. The hospital has 40 orthopedic surgeons focused on a variety of specialties and dedicated to research that advances the field. The faculty's research spans the bone and cartilage cell biology, computational biomechanics and orthopedic implant function and failure. In 2019-20, the hospital earned a spot among U.S. News & World Report's top 50 hospitals for orthopedic surgery.

Porter Adventist Hospital (Denver). Surgeons at The Porter Center for Joint Replacement perform around 2,000 knee and hip replacements each year and recorded a 99 percent patient satisfaction rating from an independent study. The hospital's specialists have published more than 700 journal articles and chapters and earned recognition for hip and knee replacement clinical quality by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and United Healthcare. The hospital remodeled its six dedicated orthopedic operating suites in 2007 for joint replacements and now hosts international fellowship training in hip, knee and shoulder surgery techniques.

Rothman Orthopaedic Specialty Hospital (Bensalem, Pa.). Rothman Orthopaedic Specialty Hospital is a 65,000-square-foot facility with six operating rooms equipped for joint replacement and other orthopedic procedures. More than 30 physicians and surgeons bring operative and non-operative cases to the hospital. The hospital's team of orthopedic and spine surgeons perform more than 3,000 spine surgeries and nonoperative treatments per year. The hospital earned the Outstanding Patient Excellence Award, Patient Safety Excellence Award and Excellence Awards for total knee, hip and joint replacement from Healthgrades.

Rush University Medical Center (Chicago). Rush University Medical Center orthopedic surgeons perform around 3,800 hip and knee replacements per year. They serve as the team physicians for the Chicago Bulls, White Sox, and Fire soccer team as well as other local athletic organizations. Rush publishes its own annual journal focused on orthopedics and was ranked No. 7 in the nation for orthopedic surgery by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20. Rush also conducts research, with physicians and scientists participating in clinical trials about conservative treatment for arthritic knee pain and stem cell treatments for rotator cuff conditions.

Saint Francis Hospital Memphis (Tenn.). The Saint Francis Joint and Spine Center includes 23 specialty orthopedic and spine beds within the 479-bed Saint Francis Hospital Memphis. Surgeons performed around 921 spine and joint replacements at the hospital for the first half of 2019, and more than 1,900 in 2018. It was also the first hospital in Memphis to offer robotic total knee replacements, and now its surgeons have completed more than 1,000 partial and total knee replacements with the technology. The Saint Francis Joint and Spine Center is home to a spine surgical robot, which the team has used for more than 500 procedures. The hospital has earned The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval as a certified hip and knee replacement program.

Santa Monica (Calif.)-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital. The UCLA Health and Orthopedic Hospital has built a comprehensive orthopedic program joining surgical and non-surgical specialists, academic medicine and scientific research. The health system's location in Santa Monica has earned the Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement designation from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20. In terms of research, the health system's orthopedic program is connected to The J. Vernon Luck, Sr., M.D. Orthopaedic Research Center on the UCLA campus, and its faculty ranks among the top 10 in the nation for National Institutes of Health medical-research funding.

Scripps La Jolla (Calif.) Hospitals. The orthopedic surgeons at Scripps perform more than 3,000 hip and knee replacements per year, and the hospital includes robotic technology for increased precision in orthopedic procedures. The system's hospitals have received the Blue Distinction Center designation for orthopedic care from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and Scripps La Jolla Hospitals was rated in the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report. The health system also has a robust research program through the Scripps Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education with ongoing projects focused on areas such as allograft transplantations for cartilage repair, joint implant design, joint implant wear testing and orthopedic stem cell research and genomics.

Sentara Leigh Hospital (Norfolk, Va.). The Orthopedic Hospital at Sentara Leigh is an orthopedic specialty hospital offering the full continuum of care. The hospital's joint replacement program includes robotic technology for partial knee replacements, and was home to the 1,000th surgery performed on the Navio robotic system. The 48-bed hospital also includes the Sentara OrthoJoint Center Express Track, which allows patients to leave the hospital one day after joint replacement surgery.

Spectrum Health (Grand Rapids, Mich.). Spectrum Health has a robust orthopedic surgery and joint replacement program, with as many as 95 percent of joint replacement patients reporting high or very high satisfaction ratings after surgery. In 2019, the hospital also earned recognition among America's 100 Best Joint Replacement hospitals from Healthgrades. The health system has around 56 orthopedic surgeons and more than 100 dedicated orthopedic beds. In addition to providing patient care, the orthopedic department also focuses on research and has received around $600,000 in external funding.

St. Luke's Regional Medical Center (Boise, Idaho). In 2018, St. Luke's Health System opened a new 230,000 square-foot orthopedic specialty facility in Boise with 12 operating rooms and 30 beds. The facility can accommodate 20,000 visits and 7,000 surgeries per year. The health system opened a separate orthopedics location after realizing that its community was expanding, with a 10 percent projected increase in demand for orthopedic services from 2017 to 2020. The health system also has a sports medicine and training program with affiliations that span the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, U.S. Soccer Federation and Ultimate Fighting Championship.

St. Peter's Health Partners (Albany, N.Y.). St. Peter's Hospital Joint Replacement Center surgeons perform 2,500 total hip and knee replacements per year, ranking it among the highest volume hospitals in New York. The hospital also aims to discharge patients to their home, reporting 94 percent of joint replacement patients were discharged home between January 2017 and March 2018, exceeding the national average of 85 percent to 88 percent. The average length of stay for joint replacement patients is also around a half-day shorter at St. Peter's Hospital. In 2018, Women's Choice Award honored the hospital among America's Best Hospitals for Orthopedics and it also earned high performance designation in hip and knee replacement from U.S. News & World Report.

Stanford (Calif.) Health Care-Stanford Hospital. Stanford Hospital's orthopedic team includes around 55 physicians who span joint replacement, spine, sports medicine and extremities care. The hospital includes both inpatient care and an outpatient center in Redwood City, Calif., focused on orthopedics and sports medicine. The hospital's orthopedics department is also focused on research and is currently participating in 17 clinical trials, including studies on pediatric bone tumors and treatment for chronic back pain. U.S. News & World Report ranked Stanford Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for 2019-20.

Stony Brook (N.Y.) University Hospital. The clinical practice of Stony Brook Medicine includes Stony Brook Orthopaedic Associates, which reports more than 68,000 annual office visits. The hospital's orthopedics team also performs more than 5,600 surgeries each year across both routine and complex specialties. Stony Brook is the only level 1 trauma center in Suffolk County, and has the specialists available to treat orthopedic traumatic injuries. U.S. News & World Report ranked Stony Brook among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2019-20.

Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital. Tampa General Hospital has a skilled, high-volume orthopedic team, reporting low readmission rates, postoperative complications and revision procedures. The hospital reported 600 knee replacement procedures in 2018 and includes robotic technology for more precise, minimally invasive procedures. Tampa General also participates in the CMS Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model. Newsweek honored the hospital in 2019 as one of the World's Best Hospitals for orthopedics based on patient satisfaction, clinician recommendations and key performance indicators. U.S. News & World Report also ranked Tampa General among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2019-20.

Texas Health Presbyterian Plano. As Texas Health Presbyterian Plano aims to grow its orthopedics program, the hospital recently completed a $25.4 million expansion project that added five designated orthopedic operating rooms to its campus. The new rooms include advanced technology for complex joint and spine procedures. The hospital also has a robust sports medicine program, which includes physical therapy, concussion management, athletic training and sports nutrition. U.S. News & World Report distinguished Texas Health Presbyterian Plano as high performing in orthopedics in 2019-20.

Texas Orthopedic Hospital (Houston). Texas Orthopedic Hospital opened in 1995 and is a joint venture between physicians and Fondren Orthopedic Group. It is affiliated with HCA Houston Healthcare and earlier this year earned a spot on the Top Workplaces 2019 list by the Houston Chronicle. The hospital has also ranked consistently in the top 5 percent nationwide by HCAHPS and earned Healthgrades' 5-star recognition for total knee and hip replacements for the past 12 years. In May, Texas Orthopedic affiliated with Texas Southern University and became the official sponsor of its athletic programs.

Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals (Philadelphia). Jefferson Health's department of orthopaedic surgery includes specialists from Rothman Orthopaedics at Jefferson Health, 3B Orthopaedics and Abington Orthopedic & Spine Institute - Jefferson Health. The system's team performs more than 61,000 surgical orthopedic procedures per year and ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20. More than 60 board-certified physicians make up the department, focused on clinical care and research focused on vertebral disc disease and osteoarthritis.

Torrance (Calif.) Memorial Medical Center. The Lundquist Orthopedic Institute at Torrance Memorial Medical Center has earned recognition as a Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for knee and hip replacement surgery as well as spine surgery. It is the fifth largest private orthopedic hospital in Los Angeles County and earned recognition from U.S. News & World Report as one of the top hospitals for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20. Its specialists take a team approach to treating orthopedic patients and support more than 2,100 orthopedic procedures each year.

UC Davis Medical Center (Sacramento). UC Davis Health launched its orthopedics department in 1969, and it has grown into an internationally known orthopedics program. The health system includes the UC Davis Trauma Center, among the three busiest level 1 trauma centers in the country, as well as an adult reconstruction center and sports medicine program. The health system's flagship hospital, UC Davis Medical Center, earned recognition as one of the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20. U.S. News also ranked the health system's Shriner's Hospitals for Children - Northern California among the top hospitals for pediatric orthopedics in the nation this year.

UC San Diego Health-Jacobs Medical Center (La Jolla, Calif.). More than 20 orthopedists make up the team at UC San Diego Health's orthopedic center. The system is the official healthcare provider for the San Diego Padres as well as UC San Diego Athletics. In addition to providing orthopedic care, the health system's specialists participate in clinical trials and have research interest in biologic treatments for injured and diseased tissue, intraoperative tools to assist surgeons during procedures and outcomes for experimental interventions.

UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (Aurora). The orthopedics team at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital performs more than 4,000 orthopedic surgeries per year. The orthopedics department specializes in joint replacement and preservation, spine and sports medicine, taking an interdisciplinary approach to patient care. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2019-20. Beyond practicing medicine, the hospital's physicians collaborate with researchers to investigate new techniques and treatments.

UChicago Medicine. The orthopedic surgeons at UChicago Medicine focus on innovating in orthopedic and spine care for more personalized treatments. The health system established the nation's first full-time orthopedic surgery faculty in 1930 and that has grown to include 31 surgical and non-surgical physician specialists. The orthopedics team is also focused on clinical research for musculoskeletal diseases, cartilage regeneration, orthotic techniques and more. U.S. News & World Report distinguished University of Chicago Medical Center as high performing in orthopedics in 2019-20.

UCSF Health (San Francisco). The specialists at the UCSF Arthritis and Joint Replacement Center perform more than 800 hip and knee procedures per year. The health system also has a robust sports medicine program, which includes a sports concussion program and the Sports Medicine Center for Young Athletes, which supports more than 13,000 patient visits and performs around 1,000 surgeries per year for young athletes at all levels, including U.S. Olympians. Finally, the health system treats around 10,000 spine patients per year. U.S. News & World Report ranked UCSF Medical Center among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2019-20.

UMass Memorial Medical Center (Worcester, Mass.). More than 100 experts in orthopedics and rheumatology provide care at UMass Memorial Medical Center. The hospital's joint replacement program earned Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip surgery from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and earned the five-star rating from Healthgrades for total knee replacements for three consecutive years, most recently in 2018. The hospital's researches have received $19 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health as well as $1.7 million from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Skin Disease to improve outcomes after total knee replacement surgery.

University Hospital (Augusta, Ga.). To deliver specialized patient care, University Hospital has devoted its ninth floor to a $9 million Orthopaedic & Spine Center with 45 private patient rooms, a dedicated rehabilitation gym and expansive workspace for physicians and nurses. Anchoring University Health Care System, the 812-bed University Hospital is the only facility in its region to receive designation from Blue Cross Blue Shield as a Blue Distinction Center+ for knee and hip replacement and spine surgery. It is also the region's only facility recognized as an Aetna Institute of Quality for joint replacement and spine surgery.

University Hospitals (Cleveland). With nine specialty divisions, University Hospitals' orthopedics department takes pride in its multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to care. Physicians at the 1,032-bed hospital are also enlisted as full-time faculty members at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, a Cleveland institution known for heavy investment in research over the past two decades. Through its sports medicine division, UH serves as the official medical provider for the Cleveland Ballet and the Cleveland Browns.

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (Iowa City). The orthopedics and rehabilitation department at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has 48 beds across its system, which includes 10 outpatient clinics and a specialty radiology unit. The department's physicians see around 280 patients per day and around 70,000 patients per year. The orthopedic surgical team performs 7,000 procedures annually. In addition to clinical care, University of Iowa's orthopedic specialists are involved in research for the prevention of osteoarthritis after joint injuries, concussion treatment, sports-related treatment protocol and other innovative projects. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2019-20.

University of Kansas Hospital (Kansas City, Kan.). The University of Kansas Hospital is home to The University of Kansas Health System's orthopedics department, which includes more than 30 providers. The system is the official healthcare provider for The Kansas City Chiefs and The Kansas City Royals and provides athletic training and sports medicine services at multiple school districts. For 2019-20, University of Kansas Hospital was ranked in the top 10 percent of hospitals for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report.

University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital (Lexington). As a university-affiliated program, the orthopedics department at Albert B. Chandler Hospital strives to provide cutting-edge care. The 569-bed hospital opened in 1962 and employs fellowship-trained orthopedic trauma surgeons at its level 1 trauma center, which is the only one in central and eastern Kentucky. UK Chandler Hospital features multiple hospital-based clinics, including one entirely devoted to orthopedic surgery.

University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center (Towson). Each year, more than 25,000 patients come to the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center to see specialists at The Orthopaedic Institute, which is known for excellence in pain management and rapid rehabilitation after joint replacement. The 218-bed hospital partners with Towson Orthopaedic Associates to deliver 1,600 joint replacements a year and offers comprehensive rehabilitation services in conjunction with Towson Sports Medicine. St. Joseph Medical Center's 50-bed orthopedic unit features 32 private patient rooms and a rehabilitation facility.

University of Minnesota Medical Center (Minneapolis). University of Minnesota Medical Center's 50-plus orthopedic providers are nationally and internationally recognized for expertise in sports medicine, physical medicine, family medicine and rheumatology, among other fields. With a physical medicine and rehabilitation program that has been around for more than 50 years and a walk-in clinic for orthopedic and sports medicine services, University of Minnesota Medical Center operates under the belief that muscle, bone and joint pain shouldn't prevent patients from doing the things they enjoy. This approach has helped the hospital obtain Blue Cross Blue Shield's Blue Distinction Centers+ designation for efficiency and expertise in knee and hip surgery.

University of Tennessee Medical Center (Knoxville). With a team of eight orthopedic trauma surgeons, the 685-bed University of Tennessee Medical Center operates East Tennessee's only level 1 trauma center verified by the American College of Surgeons. In October, the hospital unveiled plans to open a freestanding orthopedic surgery center in partnership with Knoxville-based OrthoTennessee and University Orthopedic Surgeons. University of Tennessee Medical Center was the first in the state to receive The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Certification for total hip and total knee replacement.

University of Virginia Medical Center (Charlottesville). With more than 84,000 patients visiting its clinics, UVA Orthopedics recorded 1,189 hip and knee surgeries from mid-2018 to mid-2019, while beating the national average length of stay for hip fracture patients. University of Virginia Medical Center also beat the national average on surgical infection rates for hip replacement for 2018. University of Virginia Medical Center was also the state's first hospital to receive premier certification from the International Geriatric Fracture Society and earned recognition from Blue Cross Blue Shield as a Blue Distinction Center for knee and hip replacement.

University Hospital-Michigan Medicine (Ann Arbor). Under the leadership of former chair James E. Carpenter, MD, who stepped down in May, Michigan Medicine's orthopedic surgery department has grown to include several dozen faculty members and nearly 400 staff members. In addition, the system accommodates over 300,000 outpatient visits annually at its Comprehensive Musculoskeletal Center. The center now employs 250-plus physicians across 22 facilities, including the 550-bed University Hospital which earned recognition among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery by U.S. News & World Report for 2019-20.

University of Utah Hospital (Salt Lake City). University of Utah Hospital's Center for Hip & Knee Reconstruction leverages resources from the University Orthopaedic Center and University of Utah Health to diagnose and treat patients. The system's orthopedic surgery department received $12.4 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health in 2018, earning a No. 1 ranking from The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research. Designated as a Blue Distinction Center for knee and hip replacement, University of Utah Hospital is home to the Center for Hip & Knee Reconstruction, a charter member of the American Joint Replacement Registry.

UPMC (Pittsburgh). Encompassing 13 research laboratories with funding from the National Institutes of Health and other institutions, UPMC's orthopedic surgery department helps shape the field's future through evidence-based studies and clinical trials. The organization's sports medicine division is the official medical provider of the Pittsburgh Steelers and over 60 high school, college and regional teams and events, providing specialized treatment for athletes at two full-service sports complexes. With high marks in advanced technologies, patient services, nurse staffing and patient volumes, UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside was ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report for 2019-20.

UR Medicine (Rochester, N.Y.). UR Medicine supports robust orthopedic services across its seven hospitals. The Evarts Joint Center at Highland Hospital earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for knee and hip replacements, and the Aetna Institutes of Quality also distinguished the center for excellence in orthopedics. UR Medicine's orthopedic surgeons are also involved in research and are among the top in the nation for National Institutes of Health orthopedics research funding. The system's Center for Musculoskeletal Research includes 75 scientists that work alongside principal investigators and researchers to improve bone health.

UT Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas). With a team of 28 orthopedic specialists, UT Southwestern Medical Center offers a multidisciplinary approach to care across six locations. Surgeons at the academic medical center pioneered minimally invasive percutaneous surgery and were the first in North Texas to use a female-specific prosthetic for knee replacement. Led by professor and chair Dane Wukich, MD, the hospital's orthopedic surgery department has researchers currently involved in more than four dozen clinical studies.

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100 hospitals and health systems with great orthopedic programs | 2019 - Becker's Hospital Review