Stone Research Foundation

Our Research

Stone Research Foundation partners with internationally recognized pioneers in orthopaedic science, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. With expertise and a proven track record of innovation, our team is uniquely positioned to translate ideas into real-world therapies.

Read our 2025 Annual Report to see what we achieved

Our Focus

Articular Cartilage

Research into regenerating the smooth, gliding surface of joints through innovative paste grafting and biologic techniques.

Explore Articular Cartilage Research

Meniscus

Studies on meniscus allograft transplantation and regeneration to preserve knee function and delay joint replacement.

Explore Meniscus Research

Ligament

Research on ACL reconstruction techniques and xenograft ligament development for improved outcomes.

Explore Ligament Research

Injections

Studies on growth factors, PRP, and other injectable therapies to accelerate healing and treat arthritis.

Explore Injections Research

Veterinary

Translational research using animal models to advance regenerative treatments for humans and animals alike.

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Landmark Findings

Research that has changed how we approach biologic joint repair.

PASTE GRAFT OUTCOMES

19.1 Years

Longest follow-up study demonstrating sustained benefit of articular cartilage paste grafting for knee arthritis.

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MENISCUS SURVIVAL

89.4%

Meniscus allograft transplant survival rate at minimum 2-year follow-up, restoring knee function.

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XENOGRAFT ACL

20 Years

First proof that processed porcine tissue can successfully reconstruct human ACL ligaments.

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Global Collaboration with Field Leaders

The leading scientific and clinical experts guiding this vital research from lab to clinic

Stone Research Foundation partners with internationally recognised pioneers in orthopaedic science, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. With expertise and a proven track record of innovation, our team is uniquely positioned to translate ideas into real-world therapies.

Explore Our Research Partners

Active Studies

Current Research Projects

Our ongoing research initiatives focused on advancing regenerative orthopaedics and developing new treatments for arthritis.

Active 2023 - Present

CIRM Stem Cell Cartilage Regeneration

California Institute for Regenerative Medicine-funded study investigating stem cell therapies for cartilage regeneration in arthritic joints.

Principal Investigator: Kevin R. Stone, MD

Active 2022 - Present

Differential Effects of HA and PRP Injections

Investigating the comparative efficacy of hyaluronic acid versus platelet-rich plasma injection therapies on cartilage preservation.

Presented at ORS 2025, ISAKOS 2025

Ongoing 2020 - Present

Meniscus Transplantation in Patients Over 50

Long-term outcomes study of meniscus allograft transplantation in older patients, demonstrating delayed arthroplasty.

Published in Arthroscopy 2024

View Academic Presentations

Published Research Library

15 peer-reviewed studies spanning 27+ years of orthopaedic research in biologic joint repair.

Showing 15 of 15 studies

Articular Cartilage Knee 1997

Surgical Technique for Articular Cartilage Transplantation to Full-Thickness Cartilage Defects in the Knee Joint

Kevin R. Stone, Ann Walgenbach

Research Question: How can full-thickness cartilage defects be repaired in a single procedure?

The mixture of articular cartilage and cancellous bone appears to provide a supportive matrix for cartilage formation. Pain relief is excellent if careful surgical technique and defined rehabilitation program is followed.

Key Finding: Original description of the paste graft surgical technique.

Operative Techniques in Orthopaedics View Publication

Meniscus Cartilage Knee 2003

Meniscal Allografting: The Three-Tunnel Technique

Kevin R. Stone, Ann W. Walgenbach

Research Question: How can meniscus allograft fixation be improved?

An improved arthroscopic technique of meniscal transplantation that simplifies the surgical procedure and secures the allograft to the tibia at 3 sites.

Key Finding: Improved arthroscopic technique securing allograft to tibia at 3 sites.

Arthroscopy View Publication

Meniscus Cartilage Knee 2006

Meniscus Allograft Survival in Patients with Moderate to Severe Unicompartmental Arthritis: A 2- to 7-Year Follow-up

Kevin R. Stone, Ann W. Walgenbach, Thomas J. Turek, Abhi Freyer, Martin D. Hill

Research Question: Should patients with arthritis be excluded from meniscus transplantation?

Meniscus allografts can survive in a joint with arthrosis, challenging the contraindications of age and arthrosis severity.

Key Finding: 89.4% allograft survival rate in arthritic knees—challenging conventional contraindications of age and arthrosis.

Arthroscopy View Publication

Articular Cartilage Knee 2006

Articular Cartilage Paste Grafting to Full-Thickness Articular Cartilage Knee Joint Lesions: A 2- to 12-Year Follow-up

Kevin R. Stone, Ann W. Walgenbach, Abhi Freyer, Thomas J. Turek, Donald P. Speer

Research Question: Does paste grafting provide lasting relief for severe cartilage damage?

Paste grafting is a low-cost, 1-stage arthroscopic treatment for patients with Outerbridge classification grade IV arthritic chondral lesions offering excellent, long-lasting pain relief.

Key Finding: 85.6% success rate; 63.6% of biopsies showed strong cartilage regeneration evidence.

Arthroscopy View Publication

Meniscus Cartilage Knee 2007

Meniscal Sizing Based on Gender, Height, and Weight

Kevin R. Stone, Abhi Freyer, Thomas J. Turek, Ann W. Walgenbach, Sonali Wadhwa, John V. Crues III

Research Question: How can surgeons accurately match meniscus allografts to patients?

Height, weight, and gender should be considered by both tissue banks and surgeons as fast and cost-effective variables by which to predict meniscal dimensions.

Key Finding: Height, weight, and gender correlate with meniscal dimensions—simplifying tissue bank matching protocols.

Arthroscopy View Publication

Meniscus Cartilage Knee 2008

Lessons Learned From Our First 100 Meniscus Allograft Transplants in Arthritic Knees

Kevin R. Stone, Ann W. Walgenbach, Abhi Freyer

Research Question: Can meniscus transplants succeed in knees that already have arthritis?

Meniscus transplantation is a rewarding soft tissue reconstruction that can be useful for arthritic as well as pristine knees to alleviate pain, restore function, and ultimately, delay or avoid joint arthroplasty.

Key Finding: Comprehensive review demonstrating allografts can survive in arthritic knees and delay joint replacement.

Humana Press - Musculoskeletal Tissue Regeneration View Publication

Meniscus Cartilage Knee 2010

Meniscus Reconstruction: The New Field of Rebuilding Meniscus Cartilage

Kevin R. Stone, Johnathan R. Pelsis, Wendy S. Adelson, Ann W. Walgenbach

Research Question: Is it possible to rebuild meniscus cartilage that has been lost?

Meniscus reconstruction techniques offer new possibilities for rebuilding meniscus cartilage in patients who have lost this critical structure.

Key Finding: Meniscus reconstruction represents a new paradigm for rebuilding damaged meniscus cartilage.

Knee Surgery, Arthroscopy, Sport Traumatology View Publication

Meniscus Cartilage Knee 2010

Long-term Survival of Concurrent Meniscus Allograft Transplantation and Articular Cartilage Repair

Kevin R. Stone, Wendy S. Adelson, Johnathan R. Pelsis, Ann W. Walgenbach, Thomas J. Turek

Research Question: Can meniscus transplant and cartilage repair be performed together successfully?

Combined meniscus allograft transplantation with articular cartilage repair procedures demonstrates excellent long-term survival and functional outcomes.

Key Finding: Concurrent meniscus allograft transplantation and articular cartilage repair provides long-term joint preservation.

Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (British) View Publication

Articular Cartilage Knee 2014

Osteochondral Grafting for Failed Knee Osteochondritis Dissecans Repairs

Kevin R. Stone, Johnathan R. Pelsis, John V. Crues III, Ann W. Walgenbach, Thomas J. Turek

Research Question: What salvage options exist when initial OCD repair fails?

Osteochondral grafting provides a viable salvage option for patients with failed osteochondritis dissecans repairs, restoring function and reducing pain.

Key Finding: Osteochondral grafting is effective for salvaging failed OCD repairs in the knee.

The Knee View Publication

Evidence & Methodology General 2016

Systematic Analysis of the Quality of Scientific Evidence and Conflicts of Interest in Osteoarthritis Guidelines

Joseph D. Feuerstein, Jonathan R. Pelsis, Samuel Lloyd, Adam S. Cheifetz, Kevin R. Stone

Research Question: Are osteoarthritis treatment guidelines based on high-quality evidence?

Future hip/knee osteoarthritis guideline development committees should strive to improve the transparency and quality of evidence used to formulate practice guidelines.

Key Finding: 50% of hip/knee OA guidelines based on low-quality evidence; 46% don't disclose conflicts of interest.

Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism View Publication

Articular Cartilage Knee 2016

Articular Cartilage Paste Graft for Severe Osteochondral Lesions of the Knee: A 10- to 23-Year Follow-up Study

Kevin R. Stone, Johnathan R. Pelsis, Kellan Na, Ann W. Walgenbach, Thomas J. Turek

Research Question: How long do the benefits of paste grafting last in patients with severe cartilage damage?

Full-thickness articular cartilage loss can be successfully treated, reducing pain and improving function, using this single-step, inexpensive arthroscopic procedure.

Key Finding: Median benefit time of 19.1 years; 90% reported good-excellent pain relief; delayed arthroplasty to mean age 60.2 years.

Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy View Publication

Articular Cartilage Knee 2020

Osteochondral Autograft Plugs versus Paste Graft: Ex Vivo Morselization Increases Chondral Matrix Production

Daniel Grande, Todd Goldstein, Thomas J. Turek, Susan Hennessy, Ann W. Walgenbach, Le Hanh Dung Do, David Greene, Kevin R. Stone

Research Question: Does morselizing cartilage damage cells or actually stimulate regeneration?

Paste graft preparation resulted in increased mobility of chondrocytes by matrix disruption without loss of cell viability. The impaction procedure stimulated chondrocyte proliferation resulting in a cellular response to reestablish native extracellular matrix.

Key Finding: Morselization increases chondrocyte proliferation 34-80%; contradicts long-held beliefs that impaction trauma leads to cell death.

Cartilage View Publication

Ligaments & Tendons Knee 2023

Xenograft Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone ACL Reconstruction: A Case Series at 20-Year Follow-up as Proof of Principle

Kevin R. Stone, Ann W. Walgenbach, Thomas J. Turek, John V. Crues, Uri Galili

Research Question: Can pig ligament tissue be "humanized" and successfully used for ACL reconstruction?

The possibility of humanizing porcine tissue opens the door to unlimited clinical material for tissue reconstructions if supported by additional clinical trials.

Key Finding: First demonstration that "humanized" porcine ligament can remodel into functional autologous ACL over 20 years.

Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics View Publication

Ligaments & Tendons Knee 2024

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: 3-Incision Technique With Allograft Quad Tendon ACL Reconstruction

Kevin R. Stone

Research Question: How can ACL reconstruction be performed without harvesting tissue from the patient?

The 3-incision technique with allograft quadriceps tendon for ACL reconstruction is a reproducible surgical technique that avoids harvest from the patient's own body.

Key Finding: Reproducible allograft technique using quadriceps tendon—avoiding autograft harvest damage.

Video Journal of Sports Medicine View Publication

Meniscus Cartilage Knee 2024

Meniscus Allograft Transplantation in Conjunction with Biologic Knee Restoration Delays Arthroplasty in Patients Older Than 50 Years

Kevin R. Stone, Ann W. Walgenbach, Shadera Slatter, Thomas J. Turek, Caroline Ferguson-Dryden, Marie Dicker, Emma Miltenberger, Haley Cowles, Vivian Liu, Stephanie Wu, Mani Vessal

Research Question: Can meniscus allograft transplantation delay or prevent knee replacement in older patients?

Meniscus allograft transplantation in conjunction with biologic knee restoration procedures can effectively delay or prevent the need for total knee arthroplasty in patients older than 50 years.

Key Finding: Meniscus allograft transplantation with biologic knee restoration delays arthroplasty in patients over 50 years old.

Arthroscopy View Publication