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About TERC: TERC Personnel
Carl A. Kirker-Head, Tufts University
 Contact info:
Carl A. Kirker-Head
Associate Professor
Department of Clinical Sciences
Orthopedic Surgery
Marilyn M. Simpson Chair in Equine Medicine
Director, Orthopaedic Research Laboratory
Section Head, Large Animal Medicine & Surgery
Phone: 508-839-7926
Fax: 508-839-7922
Email: carl.kirker-head@tufts.edu
General Research Interest:
Investigative Interests
Bone growth and remodeling, bone repair in response to injury, bone grafting. Bone inductive and mitotic proteins. Bone cell culture therapy. Surgical and other orthopedic disease models. Musculo-skeletal vascular disease. Bone and soft tissue mechanics. Ligament and tendon physiology and response to injury. Skeletal tissue engineering. Orthopedic device development.
Clinical Interests
Clinical equine athletic injury including non-adaptive bone disease. Orthopedic surgery, particularly internal fixation and arthroscopy. Equine hoof form and function, including corrective farriery. Equine vascular disease. Clinical pharmaceuticals.
On-going Studies
Silk scaffolds for bone formation. NIH funded. Assessment of natural silk as facilitator of new bone formation and as a possible delivery vehicle for bone inducing proteins.
Evaluation of a Novel Implant for Repair of Full-Thickness Cartilage Defects in the Goat Stifle - Preliminary Study. ArthroSurface Inc. Assessment of a new method for treating focal cartilage defects in humans and animals.
Novel device assessment for arthroscopic synovial ablation. Smith & Nephew, Inc. Development of new arthroscopic (key-hole) instruments for use in humans and animals.
Development of a Novel Arthroscopic Surgical Technique for the Treatment of Navicular Disease in the Horse. Kahn Family Foundation. Evaluation of a new technique for this debilitating disease of the equine hoof.
Specialized Capabilities or Interests:
Orthopedic equine surgery
General equine surgery
Arthroscopic surgery
Implantology
Medical device and drug testing
Disease models
Advanced imaging modalities
Major Specialized Equipment Items Available:
Instron Model 8511 servohydraulic materials testing device; a Picker 5000 spiral CT; an Hologic Q1000 DXA scanner; a digital high resolution gamma camera (IS2 NuCamma Enhanced Technologies, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.); digitized fluoroscopy (Shimadzu RS-110 Remote radiology/fluoroscopy room with UD150L 630MA 50 KW ); and a Kistler model Z4852 piezoelectric quartz crystal force plate Gait Analysis System. Video-endoscopy, a high speed treadmill, comprehensive surgical facilities, a media center, and clinical pathology and pathology facilities complement the environment.
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