Klein, Monica

Regenerative rehabilitation combines rehabilitation science with regenerative medicine approaches to achieve synergistic and more effective outcomes. Within the field of regenerative medicine, there has been a growing number of cell and gene therapies (CGTs) that are either approved for clinical use or actively undergoing clinical trials. Many of these therapies—especially those targeting neurological and musculoskeletal disorders—use functional outcomes as primary or secondary endpoints, prompting discussion about how physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians can support the integration of CGTs into clinical care. In this perspective article, we explain why physicians specializing in PM&R could take a leading role in advancing the clinical translation of CGTs. Currently, CGTs are not confined to a single medical specialty, presenting a timely opportunity for PM&R—working collaboratively with neurology, hematology, and other disciplines—to assume greater leadership and influence the development and implementation of these transformative treatments. To our knowledge, this is the first publication within PM&R literature to emphasize the importance of our specialty serving as a leader and driving force in the adoption of these therapies.

Abstract Within the field of regenerative medicine for musculoskeletal regenerative medicine, orthobiologics and cellular therapies are evolving at a rapid pace. Exuberant ideas for new treatments often outpace their scientific evidence, which may create confusion for both patients and providers on what treatments are evidence based. Orthobiologics and cellular therapies are a subset of regenerative therapies focused on treatment of musculoskeletal disease. For the field of orthobiologics to progress, it is essential that musculoskeletal providers understand the necessary components for translating novel therapies from discovery into practice. In this article, we provide an overview of both the lexicon and regulatory processes related to translation of orthobiologics and cellular therapies along with a comparison of how to translate orthobiologics and related novel cellular therapies in hopes to dispel misinformation while promoting responsible advancements and ethical practices in medicine.