Today's show is brought to you by the Essential RX segment with Dr. Lametra Scott.

Her guest today is Dr. Edward Botchway. He is an Associate Professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University. Dr. Botchwey’s research program combines biomaterials science, metabolomics, and immunology to develop new therapeutic approaches that enhance the body’s innate ability to regenerate tissues damaged by injury and disease. This innovative program has resulted in new platform technologies to modulate local bioactive lipid metabolism to enhance growth and maturation of new blood vessels, to increase recruitment of endogenous pro-regenerative inflammatory cells, and to improve regenerative capacity in various adult injury contexts, including segmental bone loss, volumetric muscle loss, excisional skin injuries, and physical damage to oral mucosa. His lipidomic profiling platforms also inform methods to assess the therapeutic quality and potency of cell-based treatments and provide insight into the complex pathophysiology of sickle cell disease (SCD). He has received several distinctions, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) and SFB Mid-Career Award. He is also an elected Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and currently serves as chair of the SFB Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) committee (source).

Osteonecrosis is Bone Pain

Today's episode is all about bone pain and Sickle Cell Disease. When we discuss bone pain, we are mainly talking about osteonecrosis. According the definition provided by the Mayo Clinic, osteonecrosis also known as avascular necrosis (AVN) is the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply. it can lead to tiny breaks in the bone and cause the bone to collapse. The process usually takes months to years.

Today's Topic: Bone Pain and Sickle Cell Disease

Dr. Botchwey discussed the following points about bone pain and sickle cell disease:

Is there a difference in what men may experience than what women experience. Timestamp 11:56

AVN can start in some sickle cell patients as early as 15 years old.  Why does it happen so quickly? Timestamp 17:00

Implant Infection. Timestamp 21:55

Treatments for osteonecrosis Timestamp  28:56

Follow Dr. Botchwey's Research on Bone Pain and Sickle Cell Disease

You are more than welcome to connect with Dr. Edward Botchwey to learn more about his research within the sickle cell community

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