Stephen Sloan won a Trainee Podium Award for Outstanding Scientific Research at the Orthopaedic Research Society/Philadelphia Spine Research Symposium for his paper entitled “Imaging the Local Biochemical Content of the Intervertebral Disc using Fourier Transform Infrared Microscopy.” His work used advanced microscopy tools to better measure the degenerative changes that occur in intervertebral discs after herniation. He found that this new technique was more sensitive than traditional histology for measuring compositional changes in the outer portion of the intervertebral disc, known as the annulus fibrosus.
Results from this study can be used to better understand the process of disc degeneration and to better evaluate new therapies. Congratulations to Stephen and his co-authors!
