Research

Arthritis affects more than 4.5 million Canadians across all ages, backgrounds, and physical abilities, making it one of the leading causes of disability in the country.

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, develops when the protective cartilage covering the ends of bones gradually breaks down. In most tissues, adult stem cells help repair damage and counteract normal wear and tear. However, joint cartilage lacks its own population of resident stem cells, limiting its capacity to heal after injury or degeneration.

Without a natural mechanism for repair, individuals with osteoarthritis experience progressive cartilage loss, leading to chronic pain, stiffness, and inflammation.

Dr. Roman Krawetz is developing regenerative medical techniques that could aid in cartilage repair. The Krawetz laboratory research team are investigating the relationship between inflammation within the joint and how stem cells behave. Understanding this relationship may allow us to enhance the natural repair capacity of the patient’s own stem cells by controlling the inflammatory response.

The Krawetz Lab has published research demonstrating that both the intensity and character of joint inflammation in arthritis are closely linked to impaired stem cell function and a reduced capacity to repair cartilage.

Building on these findings, our work now focuses on strategies to harness and enhance the anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties of stem cells. Through this research, we aim to develop novel therapeutics—including pharmaceuticals and patient-derived cell-based treatments—to restore cartilage damaged by injury or osteoarthritis.

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