New Professor Examines the Potential of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
Posted on: 21 May 2015
A new Academic Unit of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Trinity College Dublin’s School of Medicine was officially opened with the Inaugural Lecture of Cathal Moran, Professor of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Trinity in the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute.
The lecture, themed ‘To Replace, Repair or Regenerate?’ examined the potential of regenerative medicine in Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. Professor Cathal Moran is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Sports Surgery Clinic, Santry. He has also recently been appointed Honorary Professor at Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and a Professorial Fellow of Trinity.
The new Academic Orthopaedic Unit at Trinity is only the second such academic unit in Ireland. In addition to its base in Orthopaedic Surgery, this is also the first ever Chair of Sports Medicine at an Irish University. The venture between Sports Surgery Clinic and Trinity College Dublin also represents the first time the clinical component of a Chair in a surgical discipline has been hosted by a private hospital.
During his Inaugural Lecture, Professor Moran discussed how the concepts and goals of regenerative medicine are as enduring as humankind, from the ancient Prometheus myth that epitomizes inherent healing powers to most recent Nobel Prizes in Physiology and Medicine that recognises the ground breaking decoding of cell fate decisions.
He spoke about the role of the new Academic Unit of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine to facilitate the delivery of a world-class system of linked education, research and clinical care in this field and talked about the opportunities that lie ahead, linking science, surgery and prevention and the importance of improved translation between research laboratories and clinical care providers. This includes the development of new clinical trial infrastructure at Sports Surgery Clinic and partner sites.
Professor Moran also addressed some of the gaps in the process of incorporating regenerative principles into daily practice internationally, and considered how we can accelerate the implementation convergence of best practices across medical and surgical disciplines towards appropriate joint replacement, repair and regeneration following injury.
The key concept of injury prevention and care for students was also discussed, including proposals for the development of research and real-time learning environments for students of Trinity. The need for outreach, innovation and entrepreneurship were also addressed by Professor Moran, demonstrating the commitment of Trinity Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine to the betterment of the economy, society and people of Ireland and internationally.
Professor Moran said: “The opening of the new Academic Unit of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine is a fantastic opportunity to link clinical care with research and education in this rapidly growing field Ireland. The vision shown by Trinity and Sports Surgery Clinic in generating this momentum can leave a unique imprint on the combined worlds of regenerative medicine and orthopaedics internationally.”
Professor Moran addressed the assembled audience comprised of Trinity Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Professor Mary McCarron, Faculty of Trinity and of other colleges, as well as many students and staff of the School of Medicine, the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, and affiliated clinical site.