Comparative Orthopedics and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory
Dr. Watts places a bone marrow needle in the sternum of an equine
patient for stem cell collection
The Comparative Orthopedics and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory at
Texas A&M University was founded in 2012, with the specific
mission to foster and expand multidisciplinary research and equine
clinical care for orthopedic disorders and regenerative
therapies. The laboratory provides for the isolation and
expansion of autologous (self) stem cells from bone marrow for
Texas A&M equine patients.
Ashlee Watts DVM, PhD, DACVS,
is director of the lab and an equine orthopedic surgeon in the
Department of Large Animal
Clinical Sciences. Dr. Watts works with board certified
faculty members on the Equine Orthopedics,
Equine
Lameness and
Diagnostic Imaging services at Texas A&M
and collaborates with basic scientists and veterinarians throughout
campus and at other academic institutions. The laboratory is
located in the new wing of the Veterinary Medical Research
Building, immediately adjacent to the
Large Animal Hospital at Texas
A&M.
Kathy Rector, CORML technician, prepares autologous fibrinogen for
a stem cell graft to an OCD lesion in the stifle of a young
horse.
The Comparative Orthopedics and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory
serves the equine industry and veterinary community by: evaluating
and treating orthopedic disease with stem cells and regenerative
therapies in equine athletes; providing guidelines and strategies
for management of equine clinical cases through incorporation of
innovative regenerative and stem cell technologies; engaging in
orthopedic and regenerative research with immediate impact to both
equine and human athletes; and educating veterinary students,
veterinary residents, graduate students, and visiting scientists in
equine regenerative techniques for orthopedic disease.
Rachel Brooks, a pre-veterinary Honors student, investigates
methods to optimize bone marrow isolation of stem cells.
Areas of research emphasis include techniques for improved stem
cell isolation and expansion for autologous therapy, techniques for
the optimization of stem cells for tendon, cartilage, bone and
anti-osteoarthritis therapy, and investigation into the basic
mechanisms of successful stem cell therapy. The overriding goal of
the laboratory is to provide for the dedicated study of orthopedic
diseases and the development of innovative targeted therapeutic
measures to treat orthopedic diseases.