A Conversation with Andrew Lederman, MD, Chief of Physiatry at NEBH
Innovating beyond traditional spine therapies
Andrew Lederman, MD, Chief of Physiatry at NEBH, has built his career around the goal of improving the lives of patients experiencing chronic pain. He joined NEBH in 2022 to lead its longstanding spine program and bring new ideas to how chronic back and joint pain are treated. Thanks to three recent philanthropic gifts, Dr. Lederman is advancing a promising approach that uses the body’s own healing abilities rather than relying solely on procedures that block or destroy pain signals.
Regenerative medicine focuses on harnessing the body’s natural healing process to repair damaged tissues, offering an alternative to treatments that only mask pain. One of the most studied regenerative tools is platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which uses a patient’s own platelets to help repair tissue and reduce inflammation. In contrast, many current spine treatments rely on nerve ablation therapies—procedures that use heat or chemicals to disrupt pain-carrying nerves. While ablation can provide meaningful relief, it does so by intentionally destroying tissue, and its effects can be temporary. By exploring whether PRP can provide safer, longer lasting, and natural healing effects, Lederman’s work aims to address a gap in spine care.
In the following Q&A, Dr. Lederman explains what inspired this work, how the research could change care for people living with spine pain, and why philanthropic support is essential to moving these ideas from the lab to the clinic.
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What inspired you to pursue this area of research? Why is it important to patient care?
I’ve long been fascinated by regenerative medicine. In orthopedics, especially in joints like the shoulder, hip, and knee, PRP has shown real promise. But the spine has lagged behind in research. Many current treatments rely on steroids or nerve ablations. These tools help, but they also carry risks. PRP offers the potential for safer, biologically restorative treatment. If we can show benefit, it could change the way we care for spine pain.
What are the core goals of your research?
Our primary goal is straightforward: measure improvements in pain and function. We’re comparing PRP injections against the standard of care to understand how outcomes differ. At the same time, we are tracking the quality and concentration of the PRP itself, which could help guide future studies and more in-depth research.
How has philanthropic funding made a difference, and why is philanthropy so vital to research?
PRP procedures are not covered by insurance, and conducting rigorous research requires significant resources, from specialized equipment and blood analysis tools to research staff who follow patients over time. Philanthropy has been the catalyst that made this project real. In just weeks, donor contributions gave us the runway to launch high-quality research that would be nearly impossible to fund through traditional grants. Philanthropy can truly pave the way to transforming care not only here at the Baptist, but for orthopedic care everywhere.
How do you envision this research impacting patients, clinicians, and the field?
If we can reduce reliance on steroids or destructive ablations, even by 20%, that would be an incredibly meaningful shift for patient health. A safer, restorative approach could help reshape how clinicians think about chronic spine pain, offering a new category of treatment with fewer long-term risks.
What would you say to those who have given to your fund and people who are thinking of supporting your research?
Chronic pain is incredibly difficult to treat, and current tools come with trade-offs. Donors to this project are advancing something with true potential, not only to reduce harm but to fundamentally improve care. Their support enables responsible, hospital-grade research that could change the field. They are fueling hope, innovation, and meaningful progress for patients everywhere.