{"675437":{"#nid":"675437","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Tech Alum Launches Meniscus Implant Startup","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.orthopreserve.com\/\u0022\u003EOrthoPreserve\u003C\/a\u003E, a startup founded by Georgia Tech alumnus Jonathan Schwartz, is striving to make debilitating meniscus injuries a thing of the past and to address the long-term complications associated with meniscus tears, a common issue \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/torn-meniscus\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20354818\u0022\u003Eamong athletes and aging adults\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe meniscus is a C-shaped structure that acts as a shock absorber and stabilizer in the knee, distributing impact and protecting bone cartilage from deteriorating. Meniscus injuries are frequent in sports \u2014 aggressive movements from running or rapidly adjusting leg positions can cause the meniscus to overextend and tear. The risk of injury also increases with age. Over time, degeneration in the knee can wear down the meniscus, making it weaker and easier to tear, even during normal daily activities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cRight now, the main treatment for meniscus injuries is surgery to cut out the damaged part of the meniscus to relieve pain and impairment, but pain often returns within a few years due to degradation,\u201d Schwartz said. \u201cOnce the meniscus is cut, the only treatments are pain medication, injections, physical therapy, and even knee replacement.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Schwartz, over half of meniscus surgery patients, regardless of age, get early-onset arthritis because a severed meniscus can no longer cushion the knee as effectively.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cPatients don\u2019t like hearing that the only treatment available is to cut out their meniscus \u2014 which will accelerate arthritis development,\u201d Schwartz said. \u201cOur mission is to use our meniscus implant to help people return to activity quickly and avoid the long-term consequences of surgery.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrom Academia to Industry\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchwartz\u2019s journey to entrepreneurship began at Georgia Tech, where he enrolled as a bioengineering Ph.D. student and joined the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/kulab.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EBiofluids and Medical Device Research Group\u003C\/a\u003E, led by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/ku\u0022\u003EDavid Ku\u003C\/a\u003E, Regents\u2019 Professor and Lawrence P. Huang Endowed Chair for Engineering Entrepreneurship. There, Schwartz and Ku discussed potential areas of need in the medical device field. Growing up in a family that experienced numerous knee and meniscus issues and having a longstanding interest in orthopedics, Schwartz decided to design an implant that could mimic the properties of the natural meniscus.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter two years in the program developing a prototype, Schwartz left Georgia Tech with a master\u2019s degree to work in the biopharmaceutical industry. In 2021, he co-founded OrthoPreserve with orthopedic clinicians Cyrus Kump, M.D., and Max Guillot, PA-C.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile working full-time, Schwartz both improved upon his prototype and developed his company on the side. But when he secured a National Institutes of Health research grant for his implant in 2023, he left his job to pursue OrthoPreserve exclusively.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAn Innovative Implant\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMade from a biocompatible hydrogel material reinforced with high-strength fibers, the implant mimics the shape, structure, and biomechanical properties of the meniscus. It is designed to restore normal joint mechanics and provide long-term protection and stability to the knee joint.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe company has also developed a minimally invasive surgical technique, allowing patients to recover quickly after a short surgery entailing just four or five small incisions. During surgery, the natural meniscus is removed, and the meniscus implant is attached to the knee joint similarly to the natural meniscus.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOrthoPreserve recently completed its first animal study in sheep, with promising results.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022All the sheep were able to walk normally within two or three weeks, and the implants held up without breaking down,\u201d Schwartz said. \u201cThe cartilage was protected at the same level as the natural meniscus on the sheep\u2019s other knees.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year, Schwartz met with the FDA and laid out a testing plan that will allow the company to start trials in humans within two years. The next animal study will last six to 12 months and will assess the long-term protective capabilities of the implant. After testing, the next steps will be to start human clinical trials and refine manufacturing techniques.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Campus Community\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOrthoPreserve\u2019s home base is \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.biosparklabs.com\/\u0022\u003EBioSpark Labs\u003C\/a\u003E, a life sciences incubator space in Georgia Tech\u2019s Science Square district. It is a collaborative startup environment that provides office space, shared laboratories, and equipment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe built BioSpark Labs because there was a need for more wet lab space and cleanroom space in the Atlanta area, and we wanted to keep biotech research coming out of Atlanta, and especially Georgia Tech,\u201d said Noriko Walker, associate director of Portfolio Management in Georgia Tech\u2019s Real Estate Office. \u201cWe kept hearing researchers say they have companies in Boston or San Francisco, and we wanted to provide a place where they could stay, do their research, and grow their companies here instead.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Schwartz, one of the most valuable benefits of BioSpark is access to Georgia Tech\u2019s core facilities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt is a great atmosphere that comes with the vast resources available for research at Georgia Tech,\u201d he said. \u201cWe also plan to take advantage of our location and look to Georgia Tech talent when we start hiring.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchwartz has several goals for OrthoPreserve. He wants to address the significant clinical need to help meniscus injury patients recover quickly, remain symptom-free, and avoid getting arthritis or a knee replacement. He wants to reduce the high costs associated with ongoing pain treatment and invasive surgeries. Improving patients\u2019 quality of life is also on the list.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWith serious meniscus injuries, you can\u0027t get the joy you used to from being active, and often you just have to sit on the sidelines and watch. We hope our implant can help these patients resume their normal activities and do the things they love.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe bio-inspired implant could help patients avoid total knee replacements, which are frequently required due to long-term degeneration caused by meniscus injuries.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The bio-inspired implant could help patients avoid total knee replacements, which are frequently required due to long-term degeneration caused by meniscus injuries."}],"uid":"36123","created_gmt":"2024-07-11 18:21:18","changed_gmt":"2024-07-11 18:31:33","author":"Catherine Barzler","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-07-11T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-07-11T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674333":{"id":"674333","type":"image","title":"orthopreserve jonathan.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJonathan Schwartz, OrthoPreserve\u0027s founder and CEO, places the meniscus implant into position in a knee model. Credit: Rob Felt\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1720721622","gmt_created":"2024-07-11 18:13:42","changed":"1720722024","gmt_changed":"2024-07-11 18:20:24","alt":"A man in a white lab coat and black gloves interacts with an implant and a knee model.","file":{"fid":"257833","name":"24-R10400-P28-001.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/11\/24-R10400-P28-001.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/11\/24-R10400-P28-001.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":264656,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/07\/11\/24-R10400-P28-001.jpg?itok=Z0usZFdl"}},"674334":{"id":"674334","type":"image","title":"24-R10400-P28-002.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe meniscus implant features a reinforcement fiber layout that mimics the natural meniscus\u0027s collagen fiber network. Credit: Rob Felt\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1720721906","gmt_created":"2024-07-11 18:18:26","changed":"1720721906","gmt_changed":"2024-07-11 18:18:26","alt":"A figure with a white lab coat and black gloves interacts with a meniscus implant and a knee model. ","file":{"fid":"257834","name":"24-R10400-P28-002.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/11\/24-R10400-P28-002.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/11\/24-R10400-P28-002.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":199395,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/07\/11\/24-R10400-P28-002.jpg?itok=uhz0KAkd"}},"674336":{"id":"674336","type":"image","title":"orthopreserve trim.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ESchwartz trims the implant after molding the\u0026nbsp;hydrogel base material during the manufacturing process. The company currently manufactures the implants by hand in the lab but is in the process of developing an automated and scalable manufacturing method. Credit: Rob Felt\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1720722291","gmt_created":"2024-07-11 18:24:51","changed":"1720728645","gmt_changed":"2024-07-11 20:10:45","alt":"A figure in a white lab coat and black glove trims an implant. ","file":{"fid":"257836","name":"24-R10400-P28-004.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/11\/24-R10400-P28-004.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/11\/24-R10400-P28-004.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":207710,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/07\/11\/24-R10400-P28-004.jpg?itok=XX8GI_KT"}}},"media_ids":["674333","674334","674336"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECatherine Barzler, Senior Research Writer\/Editor\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:catherine.barzler@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ecatherine.barzler@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["catherine.barzler@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}