Description:

Functional biologic resurfacing of joints is the Holy Grail of orthopaedic surgery.  This presentation will cover the research journey encompassing our pursuit of this Holy Grail using a case-based format aimed at answering the question proposed in the title.  SPOILER ALERT: The answer is yes…and no.     

 
After receiving his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and competing for 5 years as a professional waterskier, Dr. James (Jimi) Cook completed his DVM in 1994 and PhD in 1998.  In 1999, he founded the Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory at the University of Missouri, a multi-disciplinary team of physicians, veterinarians, engineers, and basic scientists dedicated to translational orthopaedic research, which has now been endowed and moved into its own 12,000 sq ft facility as the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics.  He has over 250 peer-reviewed publications, over $25 million in research funding, received numerous awards including America’s Best Veterinarian (2007) and a member of the inaugural CoMO 100 class recognizing those who shaped the city of Columbia, Missouri.  He holds 28 patents including the MOPSSM technology, and has seen 4 biomedical devices through FDA approval to human clinical trials.  He is currently Director of the Mizzou BioJoint® Center, Director of The Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics, Director of Mizzou Sports Science, and the William and Kathryn Allen Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery, and serves as Chief of the Division of Research for the Department of Orthopaedics at the University Hospital’s Missouri Orthopaedic Institute. He is also co-founder of Be The Change Volunteers ­a NGO dedicated to building schools in remote villages in the developing world whose teams have built 50 educational facilities in 17 countries, providing educational opportunities to more than 7,000 students.