My research project this summer at the Foot & Ankle Research and Innovation Lab at Massachusetts General Brigham is investigating osteochondral defects of the talus. Talar OCDs are characterized by abnormal damage to the cartilage and bone of the talus, the lower bone of the ankle joint, and are often treated through surgery. Recent studies have shown the promising use of different types of biologics that can be administered during a repair procedure to improve patient outcomes. We are trying to determine how effective these biologics, such as Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate which comprises mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow, are for treating this ankle injury.
I have been designing this study under the guidance of my encouraging mentor and principal investigator, Dr. Soheil Ashkani-Esfahani, and we recently received our data. Now, our goals for the upcoming weeks are to first finish screening the data for our primary variables of interest, then complete the data collection before analysis within the next 2-3 weeks. For this project, we are collecting the data retrospectively, meaning we are looking backward in time, through reviewing patient charts.
The way I plan to achieve these goals is by splitting up the work with my amazing teammates, Eddie Webb and Julia Remlinger, and maintaining consistent communication. We are having regular meetings to check in regarding our progress and brainstorm. One of my biggest long term goals this summer is to improve my leadership skills, something that I hope to achieve through leading this study. So far, I’ve already had moments that have challenged me to be decisive about what I think is best for the project, and I’ve learned to trust my own judgement while also listening to the ideas of others. This experience will help build my analytical skills, research portfolio, and confidence, and it will allow me to more deeply explore the fascinating field of orthobiologics.