Information about RVC Equine Stem Cell Services for Vet Professionals
What is the process for applying for RVC equine stem cell services?
If you wish to refer a patient to the RVC Equine Hospital for stem cell treatment, please contact the Equine Reception with your query. Alternatively, we can work with your clinic directly – simply contact us. We will send you our sample submission form, transport container and protocol for collecting the bone marrow aspirate. We can also provide you with a bone marrow aspiration kit at additional cost if required.
Stem Cell Centre services
– please contact us for prices
- Preparation and supply of up to 40 million bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (including cryobanking)
- Expansion of cryopreserved cells
Cryopreservation - Options for future treatments
As part of our standard service, we freeze stem cells for long-term storage (cryobank). This means we can culture more cells at a later date for a reduced cost if additional stem cell therapy is requested in the future. Cryopreserved cells will be stored for up to five years.
FAQ
How do I know if my client’s horse is suitable for stem cell therapy?
Tendon and ligament injuries
All tendon and ligament injuries can be considered for stem cell therapy so long as there is a contained hypoechoic injury (i.e. surrounded by a layer of intact tendon or paratenon). Hence most over-strain injuries are appropriate cases while traumatic tendon injuries are less suitable unless a granulation bed has formed to seal any surface defects.
Intra-thecal tendon lesions that involve the border of the tendon or ligament are often not appropriate because they rarely self-seal. Tenoscopic evaluation is recommended to confirm whether an intra-thecal tendon injury is contained even when thought to be so based on imaging.
Osteoarthritis
MSCs are also being used to treat osteoarthritis although the recommendation would be that MSCs are used as an adjunctive treatment with the treatment of the primary cause being still important.
My client wants to pay for stem cell therapy using their insurance – what is the process for this?
Insurance companies have been very supportive of this technology and currently the treatment is included as a treatment cost.
Does the RVC offer an advice service about equine stem cell therapy services?
The SCC is linked to the two world-class referral hospitals at the RVC (the Equine Referral Hospital and the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals) where our clinicians all have extensive experience of stem cell therapies and can advise you on the best approach.
What quality levels does the RVC adopt for equine stem therapy?
We apply rigorous Veterinary Medicines Directorate standards for our equine stem cell services.
The RVC Stem Cell Centre is one of only a few UK centres licensed by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for the production of autologous equine stem cells. To ensure that the stem cells that we prepare are of the highest quality, we apply quality control measures that monitor the product for sterility and for markers of mesenchymal stem cells.
What have other vets said about RVC stem cell therapies?
When one of our patients was diagnosed with a tendon core lesion, we asked the RVC stem cell centre services for advice. They advised autologous mesenchymal stem cells and on the very same day we could collect the kit with all the necessary equipment inside.
Charlotte Van Hoof MVetMed, PGDip VCP, Galley Hill Equine Surgery
After we gave the samples to the lab, they kept us up to date when the cells were going to be ready, which took just three weeks. Everything went very smoothly and we will definitely use the lab again in the future.
Thank you to Jay and his team for the friendly and quick service.