Laboratory for Equine and Comparative Orthopedic Research

Overview

The Laboratory for Equine and Comparative Orthopedic Research is a multifaceted, state of the art laboratory for the study of orthopedic injury and disease. Areas in the laboratory are dedicated to various kinds of testing including microstructure, gene expression, cell/tissue culture, mechanical properties and motion analysis. The wide range of research in the LECOR supports a variety of opportunities for graduate students and research trainees at all levels. Fellow researchers, students and visiting scientists are always welcome.

Ongoing Research

Research Partner Description
PALL Intra-articular Filter-derived Platelet Therapy to Alleviate Equine Lameness
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Chronic Binge Alcohol Administration Disruption of Bone Homeostasis
Winn Feline Foundation Characterization of Adult Feline Stem Cells
Canine Health Foundation Fresh and Revitalized Multipotent Cells from Canine Adipose Tissues
Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Inc. Equine Bone Regeneration with Adult Stem Cells
National Science Foundation Forces of Horses: A Quantitative and 3-Dimensional Equine Model

 

Publications

Singh S, Nyberg EL, O'Sullivan AN, Farris A, Rindone AN, Zhang N, Whitehead EC, Zhou Y, Mihaly E, Achebe CC, Zbijewski W, Grundy W, Garlick D, Jackson ND, Taguchi T, Takawira C, Lopez J, Lopez MJ, Grant MP, Grayson WL. Point-of-care treatment of geometrically complex midfacial critical-sized bone defects with 3D-Printed scaffolds and autologous stromal vascular fraction. Biomaterials. 2022 Mar;282:121392. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121392. Epub 2022 Feb 1. PubMed PMID: 35134701.

Barras ED, Hampton CE, Takawira C, Taguchi T, Nourbakhsh A, Lopez MJ. Hemodynamic Changes in Response to Hyperacute Spinal Trauma in a Swine Model. Comp Med. 2022 Feb 1;72(1):30-37. doi: 10.30802/AALAS-CM-21-000067. Epub 2021 Nov 23. PubMed PMID: 34814974; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8915416.

Yoo A, Short C, Lopez MJ, Takawira C, Islam KN, Greiffenstein P, Hodgdon I, Danos DM, Lau FH. Dehydrated Human Amniotic-Chorionic Membrane Reduces Incisional Hernia Formation in an Animal Model. J Surg Res. 2022 Feb;270:477-485. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2021.10.019. Epub 2021 Nov 17. PubMed PMID: 34800794.

Taguchi T, Zhang N, Angibeau D, Spivey KP, Lopez MJ. Evaluation of canine adipose-derived multipotent stromal cell differentiation to ligamentoblasts on tensioned collagen type I templates in a custom bioreactor culture system. Am J Vet Res. 2021 Nov;82(11):924-934. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.82.11.924. PubMed PMID: 34669492.

Yang Q, Lopez MJ. The Equine Hoof: Laminitis, Progenitor (Stem) Cells, and Therapy Development. Toxicol Pathol. 2021 Oct;49(7):1294-1307. doi: 10.1177/0192623319880469. Epub 2019 Nov 19. Review. PubMed PMID: 31741428.

Aulakh KS, Lopez MJ, Hudson C, Gaschen L, Fabiani M, Beale B, Andrews FM, Liu CC, Lattimer J. Prospective Clinical Evaluation of Intra-Articular Injection of Tin-117m (117mSn) Radiosynoviorthesis Agent for Management of Naturally Occurring Elbow Osteoarthritis in Dogs: A Pilot Study. Vet Med (Auckl). 2021;12:117-128. doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S295309. eCollection 2021. PubMed PMID: 34113552; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8187093.

Wang P, Takawira C, Taguchi T, Niu X, Nazzal MD, Lopez MJ. Assessment of the effect of horseshoes with and without traction adaptations on the gait kinetics of nonlame horses during a trot on a concrete runway. Am J Vet Res. 2021 Apr;82(4):292-301. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.82.4.292. PubMed PMID: 33764831.

Taguchi T, Lopez MJ. An overview of de novo bone generation in animal models. J Orthop Res. 2021 Jan;39(1):7-21. doi: 10.1002/jor.24852. Epub 2020 Sep 23. Review. PubMed PMID: 32910496; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7820991.

Takawira C, Arsuaga-Zorrilla CB, Wilson L, Taguchi T, Dietrich MA, Stout RW, Lopez MJ. Association of Chronic Myelogenous (Basophilic) Leukemia and the BCR/ABL Mutation in a Yucatan Barrow (Sus scrofa domestica). Front Vet Sci. 2020;7:575199. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.575199. eCollection 2020. PubMed PMID: 33251261; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7674400.

Chen D, Wu JY, Kennedy KM, Yeager K, Bernhard JC, Ng JJ, Zimmerman BK, Robinson S, Durney KM, Shaeffer C, Vila OF, Takawira C, Gimble JM, Guo XE, Ateshian GA, Lopez MJ, Eisig SB, Vunjak-Novakovic G. Tissue engineered autologous cartilage-bone grafts for temporomandibular joint regeneration. Sci Transl Med. 2020 Oct 14;12(565). doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abb6683. PubMed PMID: 33055244.

Personnel

Name Title Email
Mandi Lopez, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVS Director and Professor of Veterinary Surgery mlopez@lsu.edu 
Catherine Takawira Research Associate ctakawira@lsu.edu 
Rita Aoun PhD Student raoun1@lsu.edu 
Takashi Taguchi PhD Student ttaguc2@lsu.edu 

PhD Opportunity

The LECOR has openings for graduate students working toward the PhD degree. We work on a range of comparative orthopedic projects including animal locomotion, stem cell research, bone histology, medical device design, and 3D modeling. Potential graduate students with diverse backgrounds in biology, engineering, computer science and molecular biology are encouraged to apply. Evaluation techniques include cellular molecular, genetic (RNA and DNA) and compositional analysis, histology, cell culture, biomechanical testing, kinetics, and kinematics. Additionally, design and implementation of medical devices is a key focus in the laboratory. Email Dr. Lopez for more information (include your research interests and CV) at mlopez@lsu.edu.