Page 42 - ISAKOS 2019 Newsletter Volume 1

FELLOWSHIP REPORTS
ISAKOS Young Investigator’s Scholarship and Research Mentoring Program–2018
Juan Pablo Martinez, MD, MSc Fundación Valle del Lili
Cali, COLOMBIA
Mentor: Dr. Constance Chu
Stanford University
Palo Alto, UNITED STATES
My Bio
I am an orthopaedic surgeon living in Cali, Colombia. My practice mainly focuses on orthopaedic sports medicine, with a particular concentration on cartilage and patellofemoral problems, and involves both private and academic work with
Fundación Valle del Lili Hospital and ICESI University. I am also an Epidemiologist at the University of London and a PhD student in regenerative medicine at University del Valle.
ISAKOS Young Investigator’s Scholarship and Research Mentoring Program
In 2016, young investigators from around the world were invited to send their research projects for evaluation by the ISAKOS Scientific Committee before the 11th Biennial ISAKOS Congress in Shanghai, China. The project that I submitted involved the use of stem cells for the treatment of knee arthritis. Twenty of us received a scholarship to travel to and participate in the ISAKOS Congress. At the conference, two of us were selected to share our projects with the Scientific Committee and were awarded the Young Investigator’s Scholarship as well as the opportunity to participate in the Research Mentoring Program. The purpose of this program is to support young investigators from developing countries in their research projects.
The award was a great honor and allowed me to further enhance my project while also learning essential principles about both research in general and stem cells in particular. During my 2-week visit to Stanford University for the Research Mentoring Program, I gained a greater understanding about the University’s work on the use of orthobiologics in the settings of arthritis and sports medicine, both in the lab and in clinical practice, as well as about important aspects of research, such as the process of applying for a grant, leading a research team, and even the different issues that have to be resolved by a researcher in his or her daily life.
My Tutor
The Scientific Committee assigned Dr. Constance Chu to serve as my mentor. During my 2-week visit to Stanford, I had the opportunity to shadow Dr. Chu during several research meetings and in other scenarios, which provided great insights into the qualities that make a great researcher, including hard work, determination, grit, and a true belief in your ability to accomplish your projects.
During my visit, I was able to learn about a number of ongoing and future studies being conducted or planned by Dr. Chu’s team, which are mostly focused on posttraumatic knee arthritis. The team is taking a holistic approach to understanding the different elements that can contribute to this condition and is evaluating different interventions that could improve arthritis outcomes after an ACL injury, including the use of orthobiologics. This experience made it clear that the various aspects of research (including the measurement of appropriate variables and lab markers, gait analysis, MRI assessment, flow cytometry, the evaluation of PROMs, patient follow-up, and logistical considerations) are only possible through the efforts of a team of hard-working people. During my visit, I was able to take part in the team meetings, to see the team members interact, and to learn about different stages and processes in research.
01 Dr. Juan Pablo Martinez with Dr. Constance Chu.
Stanford University
02 Stanford University Campus.
As part of the program, I had the opportunity to visit several different sites affiliated with Stanford University, including the University Campus, the Stanford Medicine Outpatient Center in Redwood City, and the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. While at the campus, I was able to attend case presentations, grand rounds, and sports medicine lectures with faculty, residents, and fellows. One of the lectures involved BTB mismatch and other pitfalls in ACL reconstruction with Dr. Marc Safran. While at the VA, I visited the clinic with nurse Holly Burt, who is involved in a study investigating the use of PRP injections for the treatment of knee arthritis. One of the aims of that study is to better understand the relationship between certain PRP characteristics and clinical outcomes.
40 ISAKOS NEWSLETTER 2019: VOLUME I