Marianna Tryfonidou

Marianna Tryfonidou
Professor Regenerative Orthopedics
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University
Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells

"We develop treatments that have an avalanche effect."

Neck and back pain are usually associated with degeneration of intervertebral discs (the squishy parts between your vertebrae). Patients usually undergo pain management and late stage patients need surgery, where two vertebrae are fused together, which has long recovery and is not a cure for the disease.

Marianna focuses on stem cell-based regeneration of intervertebral discs using the canine model. Dogs develop spontaneous IVD degeneration which closely mimics the degenerative process in humans. Her pre-clinical model helps translate potential therapies to the human clinic (she works closely with the Orthopaedics Department, UMC Utrecht), while treating animal patients at the veterinary clinic.

Key words
Regenerative medicine, cartilage regeneration, IVD degeneration, bioengineering, canine, veterinary medicine, orthopaedics, musculoskeletal.

Brief bio of Marianna Tryfonidou
Marianna Tryfonidou received her Veterinary Medicine degree from Aristoteles University in Greece and her PhD, cum laude, from Utrecht University. Following her PhD, she specialized in surgery at Utrecht University. Since 2018, Marianna is Professor Regenerative Orthopedics in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, coordinator of iPSpine and a work package leader for several Dutch and EU consortia grants and contributes as a lecturer for various educational activities.