This first issue of the TMI Newsletter represents our progression from Arthros that was first published in 1997 to provide a vehicle of information on the clinical and basic science research being conducted at the Equine Orthopaedic Research Center (EORC). This journey started with an Equine Sciences newsletter which the EORC became a part of in 1994 due to me becoming Director of that program. It evolved to become a platform for all of the Orthopaedic Research Center (ORC) updates (name changed when we started doing additional broad based research in addition to horses), and news reports as we added the Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory, Small Ruminant Orthopaedic Research Laboratory (led by Dr. Simon Turner) which has now evolved to the Preclinical Surgical Research Laboratory (led by Dr. Easley). With movement into the new C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute (TMI), we have also added other programs such as those of Drs. Dow and Lappin as well as a large educational component and focus on entrepreneurial commercialization in biologic therapies.
We have agreed that it is logical to have a newsletter encompassing all the activities of the TMI and these activities are overviewed in our inaugural issue. Arthros is not disappearing, the Orthopaedic Research Center remains as a large component within the TMI. The other added groups are significant to our Vision and Mission and provide added strength to what we are accomplishing for the betterment of animals and humans.
I have handed over my previous leadership roles but remain as Co-Chair (with Dr. John Malone) of the TMI Executive Advisory Board, still have office in TMI and continue to be passionately involved.
With best wishes,
Wayne McIlwraith