R E S E A R CH
“This cell therapy is for the stubborn or persistent mild to moderate low back pain complaint that runs the risk of progressive degenerative disc disease and possible future surgical intervention ... This is not a Band-Aid on a problem. It’s not surgery, hardware implants or fusion. It’s real, live regrowth and repair of tissue.” – Dr. Erika Evans
received the stem cell injection or a placebo. During the next year and a half, the candidates will receive two MRIs, which will help determine if their disc height increased due to regenerated disc tissue. DiscGenics is expected to receive FDA approval with the conclusion of the study. Pending approval from the FDA, DiscGenics’ stem cell injection will be added to the small yet fast-growing list of FDAapproved stem cell injections in the world. Dr. Evans said the study has given Logan the opportunity to network, educate other health care professionals about chiropractic and identify new treatment options while keeping in mind the common goal of improving the quality of life for the patient. Dr. Evans said she hopes to be involved in future stem cell studies, specifically with DiscGenics. “An injection for pain in the spine is quite different from this cell therapy that actually repairs the disc tissue,” she said. “DiscGenics is already looking at where else they can improve or increase treatment options for patients. We could see a similar study involving cell therapy for the cervical or thoracic spine or even adjacent level disease in the lumbar spine in the future.”
Matthew Gornet, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and principle investigator of the study, lectures on Nocimed—a program that uses MRI spectroscopy data to measure intervertebral disc metabolites related to pain. This analysis method was also employed in the FDA study. LOGAN.EDU/GIVE
Dr. Gornet Tapped for Chiropractic Grand Rounds Speaker
Dr. Matthew F. Gornet
Board Certified Spine Surgeon Matthew F. Gornet, MD of The Orthopedic Center of St. Louis will be speaking at Logan on April 3 as part of Logan’s Chiropractic Grand Rounds. Speakers for the Chiropractic Grand Rounds are invited and hosted by Logan’s Dean of Research and Professor Emeritus Norman W. Kettner, DC, DACBR, FICC. Dr. Gornet is part of the team involved in the FDA Phase 1 clinical research trial investigating stem cell treatment for degenerated discs. The topic of Dr. Gornet’s presentation is “Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can identify painful lumbar discs and may facilitate improved clinical outcomes of lumbar surgeries for discogenic pain.” LOGAN UNIVERSITY • SPRING 2020 17