News
Cellular Healing
Johnny Huard starts his day with a five-mile run. Like most runners he loves the endorphins. But the knee pain? Not so much. I feel it today he says and I'll feel it tomorrow.
But he isn't just gritting his teeth and swallowing ibuprofen. Johnny Huard Ph.D. regenerative-medicine researcheris racing toward a remedy. A way to help the body age slower and heal faster. And he's doing key components of that work in Vail. He is chief scientific officer at Steadman Philippon Research Institute and director of the Center for Regenerative Sports Medicine.
In addition Dr. Huard remains the Distinguished Wallace Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.
Why the partnership in Vail? Some of the best orthopaedic surgeons in the world are here he says. And they want to be even better and help their patients heal more swiftly.
The key is stem cellsthose jack-of-all-trade cells that can morph into any type of tissue in the body. Dr. Huard should know: He's spent 20 years unlocking the secrets of cell damage and tissue repair.
The goal of his research is to turbocharge the body's repair mechanism by culturing a patient's own stem cells and boosting the supply. If we take a muscle biopsy that contains a million cells about 100 of those will actually be stem cells he says. But we can culture those 100 and in three weeks we'll have 20 million stem cells.
Studies suggest stem-cell reinforcements can speed healing of injured patients. And for aging patients a stem-cell boost can help the body resist normal wear and tear and potentially fight diseases.
Stem cells can't make you younger Dr. Huard points out. But they can keep you healthier and help you age better.
More News
-
New!
More
The Heart of It All: How Cardiovascular Health Shapes Longevity
Most of us know a healthy heart will increase our chances for a long and vital life, but how many of us truly understand how to live for a healthy heart? According to the American Heart Association, heart disease remains the number one cause of death, for both men and women, in the United States.
-
New!
More
GLP-1s and Your Health Journey: What You Need to Know
Interest in GLP-1 agonist medications, once used almost exclusively for diabetes, is soaring. Now widely referred to as weight loss injections, drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) are ubiquitous in celebrity chatter, social media and everyday patient conversations. But as demand grows, it’s increasingly important to separate hype from reality. Who qualifies for these drugs under FDA guidelines? When are they helpful? And when might carefully supported lifestyle changes offer a safer or more sustainable path?
-
New!
More
Back on the Slopes: How to Recover Physically and Mentally After a Ski or Snowboard Injury
Living in a ski town, injury is inevitable. Recovery isn’t just about regaining strength, it’s about building trust in your body. The best path back to skiing blends physical training with mental conditioning, patience with persistence. With the expert teams at Vail Health - from Howard Head Sports Medicine to Vail Health Behavioral Health - recovery is more than healing; it’s coming back stronger, smarter and more confident than before.