The Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) in Prince Edward Island, Canada, recently received funding from a new provincial research and development program to establish a center of excellence for equine bone, tendon, and ligament repair. This will not only allow continuing research into cell-based tissue therapy, but also provide treatment for patients of the college’s veterinary teaching hospital.

The project is one of 10 chosen from various sectors that will share more than $587,000 to turn research innovations into viable products and services. It will expand on the work of lead researcher Laurie McDuffee, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, associate professor in the department of health management, whose investigations have primarily focused on cellular therapy in horse and human bone healing. This funding will allow work on “regenerative medicine” for tendons and ligaments.

“We are using what we refer to as adult stem cells in regenerating these tissues, which are commonly injured in horses,” said McDuffee. “This type of regenerative medicine in horses is already being offered in the U.S. and England, and I would like to be able to offer this ‘cutting edge’ treatment option to our clients