Case Study: Indranil Sinha, MD
Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Q: How many people are affected by volumetric muscle loss from traumatic injuries each year and what are the current practices to address this health crisis?
A: The number of patients suffering volumetric loss in the U.S. is not well defined. However, it is known that approximately 150,000 patients have substantial open fractures from traumatic injuries yearly. Of these patients, it is further estimated that approximately 58% have significant muscle damage. Taken together, this suggests that 90,000 patients suffer some form of traumatic volumetric muscle loss yearly.
Unfortunately, these patients are treated either with amputation or muscle transfer from another area of the body. Neither of these operations fully restores the patient’s strength in the area. We need more treatment options.
Q: Tell us about your innovative solution to help trauma patients and how it advances the field of trauma care.
A: Scaffolds are a biomaterial that can substitute for lost muscle and have existed for quite some time. However, they haven’t always worked well. Primary problems include (1) poor tissue adhesion, (2) no tissue ingrowth, and (3) minimal muscle regeneration. With the support of the Stepping Strong Center, we’ve been able to overcome some of these issues by (1) creating a scaffold that attaches to tissue after being exposed to blue light, (2) increasing the porosity of scaffolds so that tissue can grow easily, and (3) adding muscle stem cells to regenerate muscle within a defect.
Q: How has your work progressed to impact the field of trauma?
A: We don’t have a product yet, but there has been substantial progress made in the last 5 years. I co-founded a company with Dr. Ali Tamayol, who is at the University of Connecticut, that develops highly porous scaffolds for patient use. We are still in the process of getting FDA approval, but we are hopeful that we will have a product available in the very near future.
Q: Following your collaboration with the Stepping Strong Center, what additional opportunities have come from your research?
A: I have been most fortunate in meeting collaborators through Stepping Strong. The center has introduced me to Dr. Ali Tamayol, Dr. SuRyon Shin, and Dr. Olivier Pourquie. They are all brilliant scientists and I am lucky to work with them. We have been awarded multiple federal grants together as we continue our research.
Q: What is your goal for survivors who have experienced volumetric muscle loss from a traumatic injury? What does success in this work mean to you?
A: The ultimate goal is that we will be able to restore form and function for all patients suffering from muscle loss after traumatic injury.