Thomas Brown, Ph.D., a professor of orthopaedics in the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, will lead the overall study. Sergio Mendoza, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon with UI Hospitals and Clinics, and clinical assistant professor of orthopaedics in the Carver College of Medicine, also will serve on the research team. The National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded the five-year grant.

Intervertebral disc replacement implants are often commonly referred to as "artificial spinal discs."

"Intervetebral disc replacement is rapidly gaining momentum in North America and Europe, despite a lack of information about how these implants will perform over the long term, especially regarding wear and loosening," Brown said. "This study will help us answer those questions for current and future implants."

Mendoza added, "This study places the University of Iowa in a strong position to provide testing standards for the industry."

The UI researchers will work in partnership with British investigators at the University of Leeds and German investigators at Spine Center Munich. This NIH-funded research will develop new techniques to monitor implant wear from patients' x-rays and new laboratory testing techniques to help reduce wear rates in current and future implant designs.

For more information:

Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine

Thomas Brown, Ph.D.

Sergio Mendoza, M.D.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases