7 Healthcast: Stem cell cartilage treatment

He had one knee replaced in January, and a total hip replacement in October.

Could the answer to his and so many other's long and painful recovery lie in the University of Connecticut Health Center laboratory?

The breakdown of cartilage is what causes debilitating osteoarthritis, which 21-million Americans suffer from.

Scientist Caroline Dealy is a UCONN Associate Professor heading up research into a solution.

The research involves using human embryonic stem cells to actually make new cartilage.

Scientists have cracked a so-called "instruction list," actually telling stem cells to become cartilage.

Dealy says the next step is to test it in an animal model with osteoarthritis.

Studies are getting started with a grant from the Connecticut Stem Cell Program.

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