Hiroshi Asahara, Ph.D., M.D. | Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Competition Sponsor: Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
Awardee Year: 2020

Disorders and diseases of the tendons/ligaments significantly impair motor function, forcing patients to significantly decrease their activity, which can severely impact their daily life. Additionally, these disorders increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis through joint instability. Thus, the treatment of tendon/ligament disorders is very important. However, tendons/ligaments have an extremely low self-healing ability and treatment remains very difficult. Currently, it has been difficult to engineer biomaterials by the conventional methods that can substitute for tendons/ligaments. We have established a method to create a tendon/ligament-like artificial tissue (bioligament) from the human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells using a three-dimensional tension loading hydrogel culture system. This bioligament will be applied as a new treatment to regenerate or reconstruct injured tendons/ligaments, contributing to the health and well-being of the elderly.
To learn more about this proposal email healthylongevity@nas.edu.