º£½ÇÉçÇø

Aillette Mulet Sierra, Dr. Adetola Adesida, Melanie Kunze

The Division of Orthopaedic Surgery continues to build a strong and dynamic research program in both clinical and fundamental sciences, as noted in last year’s update. In this issue of Sutures, we are pleased to feature one of our leading fundamental science researchers, Dr. Adetola Adesida, along with his talented research team.

Dr. Adesida completed his PhD at the University of Manchester before joining the º£½ÇÉçÇø in 2009. He is now a Full Professor in the Department of Surgery with an adjunct appointment in Biomedical Engineering. He has been recognized internationally as an Elected Fellow of the Orthopaedic Research Society, the International Orthopaedic Research community, the International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society, and the UK’s Royal Society of Biology. Over the past 16 years, Dr. Adesida has consistently excelled across all areas of his research program and now leads the division’s fundamental science initiatives.

Supporting Dr. Adesida are his two principal technicians, Aillette Mulet Sierra (left) and Melanie Kunze (right). Aillette, the lab’s head technician, earned her MSc in Biochemistry/Immunology from the University of Havana, Cuba. Her expertise spans a wide range of cell sources, including mesenchymal stem cells, adipose-derived stem cells, synovial fluid stem cells, and cells from meniscus and nasal cartilage. She is deeply motivated by research that can be translated into meaningful clinical applications. Melanie, who trained as a Biology Lab Technician in Frankfurt (Main) at Aeterna Zentaris, focuses on stem cell research and tissue engineering. She works extensively with nasal chondrocytes as well as cells derived from meniscus cartilage, bone marrow, synovial fluid, and fat pad. Together, Aillette and Melanie not only provide essential technical expertise but also manage many of the lab’s administrative functions and support its students.

The productivity of Dr. Adesida’s lab over the past 15 years has been remarkable. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, along with numerous abstracts and presentations. His work has been recognized with over 50 scholarly awards and honours, and he has secured more than $6 million in research funding from local, national, and international agencies. He also serves as Associate Editor for Journal of Orthopaedic Research and Annals of Biomedical Engineering and is a sought-after editorial board member and reviewer for multiple journals and funding competitions. In addition, Dr. Adesida has trained 18 graduate students, numerous orthopaedic residents, undergraduates, and even high school students, and he holds four patents or provisional patents arising from his research.

Currently, his primary research focus is on cartilage bioengineering and the mechanobiology of the knee joint meniscus with the aim of advancing repair strategies and disease modelling. His lab employs cutting-edge techniques such as 3D bioprinting, spaceflight-simulated microgravity, and next-generation RNA sequencing to generate human cartilage constructs for both clinical repair and deeper understanding of the mechanobiological foundations of knee osteoarthritis.