Mark Hurtig DVM, MVSc

Professor Mark Hurtig is the director of the Canadian Arthritis Network Strategic Research Resource Laboratory at the University of Guelph in Canada which focuses on animal models and translational studies to facilitate regulatory approval of new therapies for clinical use. His work includes industrial and academic collaborations on osteoarthritis mechanisms, identifying disease modifying therapies, and cartilage repair strategies.
He has been the primary investigator for two human knee injury research studies centred in Toronto that study factors driving knee OA progression after injury (www.proknee.ca) and patient-specific optimization of arthroscopic microfracture—a technique used for cartilage repair. He work includes collaborations in tissue engineering, computer-assisted surgery, intra-articular medication, biologics and imaging.
Dr. Hurtig’s research focuses on models to investigate human and animal disease progression, specifically bone and cartilage injuries that lead to knee arthritis. Past equine-related work includes fetlock osteoarthritis and cannon bone fractures in racehorses as well as non-invasive methods of detecting incipient injuries. Dr. Hurtig’s current research is focused on new pharmaceutical, biomaterial and cell-based therapies for treatment of cartilage and bone injuries.
Our lab uses animal species such as the rat, minipig and sheep to investigate drug, therapeutic protein and laboratory-grown engineered tissue for repair of joint injuries. Starting with mathematical (FEA) modeling and in vitro screening of cartilage explants we work toward creating a model of therapy in animals that can be extrapolated to human patients. MicroCT imaging, biomechanical testing, tissue biochemistry, morphometry and immunohistochemistry are used. Current collaborations include: University of Toronto, University Health Network (Toronto), University of Calgary, Brown University, Harvard University, University of Southern California and several industrial collaborations.