Dr. Roger Härtl, the Hansen-MacDonald Professor of Neurological Surgery and director of spinal surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, has authored a trio of comprehensive review papers in World Neurosurgery that explore the past, present and future of biologic treatment strategies for degenerative disc disease, a leading cause of chronic back and neck pain worldwide.
The three-part series begins by examining the microenvironmental foundations of disc degeneration, outlining how inflammation, mechanical stress and cellular aging contribute to spinal disc deterioration. The second paper presents the current state of biologic therapies in clinical use, including platelet-rich plasma, stem cells and gene therapy. The final article projects future directions in disc regeneration, highlighting promising innovations and the challenges that remain in translating these strategies into long-term, effective treatments.
Dr. Härtl, who also serves as the founder and director of Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian at the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Comprehensive Spine Care, is internationally recognized for his expertise in minimally invasive and computer-assisted spine surgery. His ongoing research in tissue engineering and biologic repair, conducted in collaboration with the Biomedical Engineering Department at Cornell, aims to develop next-generation therapies for patients with degenerative spinal conditions.
The new publications underscore Weill Cornell Medicine’s commitment to advancing spinal care through interdisciplinary research and patient-centered innovation.
Read the series in World Neurosurgery:
• Microenvironmental Foundations of Degenerative Disc Disease
• Current Clinical Applications of Bioactive Therapies
• Future Challenges and Innovations
