Location: University of Memphis FedEx Institute of Technology - map

Description:
Dr. Yaszemski is a Professor of Orthopaedics and Bioengineering at the Mayo Clinic, and the Director of the Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials Laboratory. He received bachelors and masters degrees in chemical engineering from Lehigh University. He received his doctorate of medicine degree from Georgetown University and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from MIT.

His clinical practice encompasses spinal surgery and sacropelvic tumor surgery. His research interests are in the synthesis and characterization of novel degradable polymers for use in bone regeneration, spinal cord regeneration via tissue engineering strategies, and controlled local drug delivery to musculoskeletal tumors. The use of biodegradable polymers which stimulate osteoblast transportation and function has major implications for spine stabilization. The use of these polymers may reduce or eliminate the long term use of spine instrumentation for stabilization. This would be particularly important in patients with chronic spine infections, especially those involving spine hardware used for spine instability or spinal cord injuries.

Research in this area could fundamentally change the manner in which these problems are currently managed. Even more intriguing is the possibility that the use of degradable scaffold polymers may facilitate or stimulate axonal regeneration in spinal cord injuries. Biodegradable polymers may also have a major impact on the management of chronic nonunion of bone fractures. Current therapy often requires the use of bone grafts, internal or external instrumentation, long periods of hospitalization, the risk of infection, and major morbidity and mortality. The use of biodegradable polymers in these patients could significantly enhance fracture healing and reduce the need for hardware instrumentation. Infections which involve hardware are among the most serious complications of orthopedic surgery. The long term potential impact of our research is enormous and could fundamentally change the way many common debilitating, life-threatening orthopedic conditions are treated. The results of our research could revolutionize a number of orthopedic and neurosurgical procedures that have been used for decades. Perhaps of even greater long term significance is the suggestion that the use of biodegradable scaffold polymers may stimulate axonal regeneration in patients with spinal cord injuries.

Schedule:
5:00 pm Collaboration & Cocktail Hour
6:00 pm Lecture
7:00 pm Questions for Speaker