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New scientist aims to harness stem cells to repair bone and cartilage


July 4, 2018

Could stem cells be harnessed to help broken bones heal faster? Could they repair damage due to osteoarthritis and sports injuries? Speed healing in people having joint replacement surgery? These are just some of the questions that Dr. Daniel Coutu will tackle as the new Research Chair in Regenerative Orthopaedic Surgery at The Ottawa Hospital. Dr. Coutu is also appointed as a scientist in The Ottawa Hospital’s Regenerative Medicine Program and assistant professor in the University of Ottawa’s Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. He was born and raised in Montreal, and completed his PhD at McGill, followed by postdoctoral studies in Switzerland and Germany.

“I came to Ottawa because I saw a great opportunity to collaborate with world-leading stem cell biologists, orthopaedic surgeons and many others,” said Dr. Coutu. “This kind of collaboration is essential for bringing innovative new therapies to patients.”

The University of Ottawa Division of Orthopaedic Surgery took the lead in fundraising to create the Chair, through The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.

The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion

The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care. See www.ohri.ca for more information about research at The Ottawa Hospital.

University of Ottawa: —A crossroads of cultures and ideas

The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca

Media Contact

Jennifer Ganton
Director, Communications and Public Relations
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73325
Cell: 613-614-5253
jganton@ohri.ca