Allograft Research and Transplantation: Editorial Comment

Excerpt

The Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF) has sponsored research grants since the early 1990s, with the goal of increasing scientific information on allograft tissue transplantation. To foster interchange between scientists and physicians interested in transplantation, the Foundation has also supported periodic symposia in which leaders in this field have gathered for two days of scientific presentations and discussion. In September 2011, the Sixth MTF Symposium was held in Chicago, IL, USA. This symposium highlighted major themes of transplantation important to the biologic reconstruction of patients, including (1) tissue processing and transplantation, (2) transplants involving ligaments and soft tissues, (3) molecular pathways and growth factors affecting transplantation, (4) stem cells in biologic reconstruction, and (5) tissue engineering affecting transplantation. …