Arthritis Ruins Lives. Arthritis is a silent, insidious, and painful joint disorder that ruins many lives. In the United States, it’s the most common cause of disability. Around 50 million adults in the US have some form of arthritis. That’s 1 in 4 adults. By 2030, an estimated 67 million American adults are projected to have physician-diagnosed arthritis.
Our mission is to pioneer new orthopaedic treatments that accelerate healing, enabling people to stay active through research, development, innovation and education.
The Stone Research Foundation is an independent, 501(c)3 non-profit research institute pioneering regenerative orthopaedic treatments to stimulate the body's own healing properties to reduce the suffering of sports injuries and arthritis.
We leverage small amounts of capital into important clinical and translational research and education. In our clinical research, we conduct outcome studies to measure the effectiveness of the biologic surgical techniques developed and utilized at The Stone Clinic. We conduct translational research to prove the scientific merit of new biologic approaches. We disseminate of the results of this research through presentation, publication, and education in order that others may benefit, and advance the standard of care in orthopaedics.
Our Core Team
Kevin R. Stone, MD, Founder and Chairman
Dr. Kevin Stone is an orthopaedic surgeon at The Stone Clinic and the Chairman of the Stone Research Foundation. He has lectured around the world as an expert in cartilage and meniscal growth, replacement, and repair and holds over 40 U.S. patents on novel inventions to improve healthcare.
Dr. Stone was trained at Harvard University in internal medicine and orthopaedic surgery and at Stanford University in general surgery. His fellowship was in research at the Hospital for Special Surgery and in knee surgery in Lake Tahoe. He is a physician for Smuin Ballet and has served as a physician for the U.S. Ski Team, the U.S. Pro Ski Tour, the Honda Ski Tour, the Jeep 48 Straight Tour, the Old Blues Rugby Club, Lawrence Pech Dance Company, Marin Ballet, the modern pentathlon at the U.S. Olympic Festival, and at the United States Olympic Training Center. Dr. Stone enjoys skiing, windsurfing, and biking and especially enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters.
Mani Vessal, MA, Ph.D., Senior Director of Research & Operations
Dr. Mani Vessal has a background in medical anthropology and neurological sciences. He holds a doctorate in medical science and trained in neuroanatomy focusing on epilepsy at the University of Toronto, Canada. In 2008 he completed his fellowship at the Stanford School of Medicine in spinal cord injury and regenerative medicine and continued his research as a Sr. Scientist at Stanford. In 2010, Dr. Vessal joined the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), the stem cell agency, as a Sr. Scientific Officer, where he managed a large portfolio in translational and clinical programs in regenerative medicine. He is an entrepreneur at heart and has founded two startup companies.
As the Director of Research for the Stone Research Foundation, he oversees all current and future research programs and spearheads the growth of future funding streams to expedite the foundation’s mission to advance therapies for treating and preventing arthritis. He is an avid fitness enthusiast and enjoys traveling in his spare time.
Simaron Dhillon, M.S., Senior Research Associate
Simaron is a passionate lifelong learner and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Integrative Biology from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Science in Global Medicine from the University of Southern California. Working with the BPSHI mobile clinic to identify and mitigate health disparities in the South Asian population in conjunction with harnessing creative methods for continually improving and optimizing organizational operations research with the Berkeley Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology first piqued her interest in patient care and research. Her enthusiasm was further bolstered while working as a research associate at UCSF. The intersection of innovation, discovery, collaboration, and service to ultimately provide effective orthopaedic outcomes that not only help patients thrive but also make meaningful impacts in local and global communities is central to her passion for research. In her spare time, Simaron enjoys baking, supporting the Sacramento Kings, Warriors, and 49ers.
Haley Cowles, Research Associate
Haley Cowles completed her undergraduate education at the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Biology & Society along with a concentration in Medicine and Public Health. During her time as an undergraduate student, she worked as a research assistant for UCLA’s BioCritical Studies Lab. Passionate about interdisciplinary health research, Haley hopes to attend graduate school in the future for a Masters of Public Health Degree or joint degree with Health Policy. She is excited about the evolving fields of regenerative and personalized medicine and is eager to see how the innovative techniques at The Stone Clinic and SRF translate to improving the lives of patients.
Miya Liku, Research Assistant
Miya completed her undergraduate education at the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies. While at UCSB, she strengthened her passion for orthopaedics through an internship in athletic training and working as an orthopaedic surgery medical assistant. These positions allowed her to explore the full course of an orthopaedic injury – from incident to recovery. She became particularly interested in orthopaedic research after completing projects in biophysical chemistry related to collagen matrixes and the tensile forces of tendons and ligaments. In the future, Miya plans to attend medical school and hopes to use her background to contribute to the field of orthobiologics and orthopaedic surgery.
In her free time, Miya enjoys hiking and exploring new exhibits at local museums.
Aindrila Haldar, MA, Development and Communications Coordinator
Aindrila Haldar graduated from Lake Forest College in Chicago double majoring in Sociology & Anthropology and International Relations. She then earned a Master’s in International Relations at the University of San Francisco as well as a Master's in Web Design. Currently working towards a Doctorate in Business Administration, Aindrila has practical experience working in development with non-profit organizations, piquing her interest in public health. She is excited to join the SRF team and will be supporting the Development and Communication teams. Aindrila Haldar is passionate about patient care, driven by a sincere commitment to making a positive impact on individuals' well-being. Her experiences in non-profits and public health organizations have fueled this dedication, instilling in her a profound understanding of the importance of compassionate and comprehensive healthcare. As she embarks on her journey in the non-profit sector, Aindrila is determined to contribute to initiatives that prioritize and enhance patient care, ensuring that every individual receives the support and attention they deserve. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, reading, and creating art.
John Crues, III, MD, PHD, Radiologist
John V Crues, III, MD, PhD, is a world-renowned radiologist, and he plays a significant role as a musculoskeletal specialist for many of The Stone Clinic’s patients. Dr. Crues received his MD at Harvard University, completed his internship at the University of Southern California in Internal Medicine, and completed a residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Internal Medicine and Radiology. He has authored numerous publications while continuing to actively participate in radiological societies such as the Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology, California Radiological Society, the International Society for Magnetic Resonance Medicine, and the International Skeletal Society. Dr. Crues currently has ongoing research projects in orthopaedic and rheumatologic MRI. He has published over 100 articles, 20 textbook chapters, and eight textbooks in the medical literature
Thomas J. Turek, Consulting Scientist
Thomas J. Turek has over 30 years of experience in orthopaedics ranging from basic research to commercialization. He has served as a scientist with the Stone Research Foundation since 1999.
Concurrent with his Foundation affiliation, Thomas was Vice President, Research and Development for CrossCart/Aperion Biologics developing xenograft soft tissue reconstruction devices. His previous scientific roles included translation research with Genetics Institute (acquired by Pfizer) developing orthopaedic and maxillofacial indications for rhBMP-2/Infuse. Educational and corporate roles in the 1980s included Michigan State University, KMS Fusion, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Thomas has a BS in Biochemistry from Michigan State University, holds 7 US and international patents, and is an author on over 50 peer-reviewed publications. With veteran, mid-coast, and international focus, he serves as a board member for several bay area non-profits.