Overview
Durham anchors the northern vertex of North Carolina’s Research Triangle, a region defined by the co-presence of three major research universities — Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and NC State — and a dense corridor of pharmaceutical, biotech, and life sciences companies in Research Triangle Park. Within this ecosystem, Duke University Medical Center operates as one of the most consistently ranked academic medical institutions in the United States, with highly active programs in orthopaedic surgery, sports medicine, oncology, and cellular therapy. The downstream effect on private practice medicine in Durham is substantial: fellowship-trained physicians who completed their advanced training at Duke’s residency and fellowship programs have opened outpatient practices in the city, bringing subspecialty-level expertise in regenerative medicine to accessible, non-hospital settings. Durham patients have a rare advantage — they can pursue regenerative treatments both inside a major academic health system and through independent private practices staffed by physicians who trained within that same system.
Patients in Durham seek stem cell therapy and related regenerative medicine treatments for a common and consistent set of reasons. The largest population presents with musculoskeletal pain that has not resolved with conventional non-operative measures: knee osteoarthritis, lumbar degenerative disc disease, rotator cuff tendinopathy, facet joint arthritis, and hip pain. These patients are typically trying to avoid or delay surgery, or are surgical candidates who are poor anesthetic risks. A second patient population approaches regenerative medicine from a pain management perspective following failed epidural steroid injections or oral analgesic therapies, seeking a treatment that acts at the tissue level rather than simply modulating pain signaling. A smaller but growing segment arrives through a functional or longevity medicine pathway, seeking cellular therapies for systemic inflammation, hormonal optimization, or injury recovery beyond the scope of traditional orthopedic care. Durham’s academic medical culture means that a meaningful share of its population is medically literate, research-aware, and willing to ask probing questions about evidence bases before committing to treatment.
The regenerative medicine landscape in Durham maps onto three clinical models that serve different patient profiles. The first is the academic orthopaedic sports medicine model, exemplified by Duke’s Sports Sciences Institute, where a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon with fellowship training in sports medicine integrates PRP and regenerative biologics into a broader musculoskeletal practice that includes arthroscopic surgery, joint reconstruction, and cartilage repair. This model offers the highest credentialing floor but is embedded in a large hospital system with the scheduling and referral infrastructure that implies. The second model is the private spine surgery and pain management practice, where a board-certified orthopaedic spine surgeon offers bone marrow concentrate or PRP therapy as a non-surgical first-line treatment for spinal conditions before considering operative intervention. The third is the integrative pain management model, where a clinic offers Wharton’s Jelly-derived regenerative tissue, PRP, IV therapy, and laser therapy as part of a broader non-surgical pain relief program. Each model carries different credentialing profiles, treatment protocols, and appropriate patient indications.
Evaluating a Durham stem cell clinic requires a structured approach beyond reading a website. The foundational question is physician qualification: is the treating provider a licensed MD or DO with verifiable board certification in a specialty relevant to your condition? Fellowship training in sports medicine, orthopaedic surgery, or pain management is a strong secondary credential. Patients should ask specifically whether procedures are performed under real-time imaging guidance — ultrasound or fluoroscopy — because guidance accuracy directly affects whether regenerative material reaches the intended target tissue. For cell-based treatments, the regulatory question matters: autologous bone marrow concentrate and adipose-derived preparations fall under FDA guidance requiring minimal manipulation and homologous use, while commercially sourced allogeneic products such as umbilical cord-derived Wharton’s Jelly exist in a more complex regulatory context. North Carolina physician license status can be verified at ncmedboard.org. Board certification can be confirmed through certificationmatters.org for MD diplomates or osteopathic equivalent bodies.
Top Stem Cell Therapy Clinics in Durham
1. Jonathan F. Dickens, MD — Duke Sports Sciences Institute
Address: 3475 Erwin Rd (Center for Living Campus, Wallace Building), Durham, NC 27705
Phone: (919) 613-7797
Website: https://www.jondickensmd.com
About: Dr. Jonathan F. Dickens operates within the James R. Urbaniak, MD, Sports Sciences Institute at Duke University, the primary outpatient sports medicine and orthopaedic facility within the Duke Health system. The Sports Sciences Institute is housed at the Duke Center for Living campus on Erwin Road and is equipped with in-facility imaging, casting, orthotics, and a human performance research lab. Dr. Dickens offers regenerative medicine-based therapy as part of a comprehensive orthopaedic sports medicine practice that includes arthroscopic shoulder and knee surgery, joint reconstruction, and cartilage repair. His regenerative medicine program is research-active: he is currently enrolled as a principal investigator in a prospective, double-blind, randomized multi-center study comparing PRP and corticosteroid for glenohumeral osteoarthritis of the shoulder, and is investigating whether sustained Simvastatin delivery can augment meniscal healing. This active clinical trial involvement distinguishes his practice from most private regenerative medicine clinics and gives patients access to a physician who is accountable to peer review for his outcomes. The clinic sees patients from across the Triangle and is affiliated with Duke University Hospital and the Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center, providing seamless escalation to surgical consultation if needed. Dr. Dickens also serves as a Team Physician for Duke Athletics and is the Director of the Duke Sports Medicine Fellowship, roles that reflect both institutional trust and depth of clinical volume.
Physicians:
- Jonathan F. Dickens, MD — Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University; Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon; Sports Medicine Specialist. Dr. Dickens received his undergraduate degree from Davidson College and his MD, with honors, from the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (2007-2013) and his John A. Feagin, Jr. Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship at the United States Military Academy West Point and the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York (2013-2014). He is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery. During his military career he served as Chief of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine at WRNMMC, Vice-Chair of Surgery at Uniformed Services University, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon to the White House Medical Unit, and Colonel in the United States Army Reserves. He holds leadership positions in the Arthroscopy Association of North America, the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and served as past president of the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Services:
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: Patient blood is drawn and centrifuged to concentrate platelet-derived growth factors, which are injected into joints, tendons, or ligaments under imaging guidance. Dr. Dickens is an active researcher studying PRP efficacy for glenohumeral osteoarthritis in both military and civilian populations, giving his PRP practice direct grounding in prospective clinical data.
- Regenerative Medicine Biologics for Tendon and Cartilage: Biologic treatments including PRP and investigational growth factor delivery protocols targeting cartilage and tendon healing, aligned with his active research into optimizing outcomes following cartilage, tendon, and ligament injuries of the knee and shoulder.
- Comprehensive Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Full scope of arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery for shoulder and knee, with regenerative options offered as alternatives or adjuncts to surgical intervention depending on patient pathology.
Conditions Treated:
- Glenohumeral (shoulder) osteoarthritis
- Rotator cuff tears and tendinopathy
- Shoulder dislocations and instability
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
- Meniscal injuries and cartilage defects
- Knee osteoarthritis and ligament injuries
- Hip arthroscopy-indicated conditions
- Tendon and ligament injuries in athletes and active patients
Technology and Equipment: Real-time imaging guidance for injections; Duke Sports Sciences Institute human performance laboratory (K-Lab); full orthopaedic imaging and surgical infrastructure through Duke Health; research-grade clinical trial protocols.
2. Mathur Spine Surgery
Address: 1110 SE Cary Pkwy, Suite 103, Cary, NC 27518 (primary office; also 101 Lattner Court, Suite 200, Morrisville, NC 27560 and 851 S. Main St., Holly Springs, NC 27540)
Phone: (919) 467-4992
Website: https://www.mathurspinesurgery.com
About: Mathur Spine Surgery is a private orthopaedic spine practice founded by Dr. Sameer Mathur, MD, serving patients from Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and the broader Triangle region across three office locations. The practice is built around a conservative-first treatment philosophy: Dr. Mathur reports that fewer than 10 percent of his patients ultimately undergo spinal surgery, with the large majority treated through non-operative means including regenerative medicine, physical therapy, and interventional pain management. Stem cell therapy at Mathur Spine Surgery uses autologous bone marrow concentrate (BMC), meaning stem cells are harvested from the patient’s own pelvic bone marrow, prepared, and injected into the target spinal disc or joint on the same day. This autologous approach complies with FDA guidance on minimal manipulation. The practice reports that 80 to 90 percent of appropriate degenerative disc disease cases treated with BMC therapy find meaningful relief, though patients are advised that full maturation of the regenerative effect takes approximately 12 months. Dr. Mathur typically treats patients with a single injection, in contrast to multi-injection protocols used at some other practices. The procedure takes approximately one hour with roughly 10 minutes for the bone marrow extraction, and patients are discharged home the same day. Cost is approximately $5,000 on average, varying by number of discs treated, and is not covered by insurance. The practice serves patients from Durham, Raleigh, Cary, and surrounding Triangle communities.
Physicians:
- Sameer Mathur, MD — Board-Certified Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon; Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Mathur completed his undergraduate education at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and as a Benjamin Franklin Scholar. He received his MD from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was elected to the AOA Society and received the University of Pennsylvania Educator Award and the Munn Award for Orthopaedic Surgery. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the State University of New York, earning the designation of Best Chief Resident, and his spine fellowship at Rush Presbyterian Medical Center in Chicago, with a focus on complex reconstructive spinal surgery and minimally invasive spinal procedures. He is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in spinal surgery and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is also a member of the North American Spine Society and the North Carolina Spine Society. Dr. Mathur served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he led a spinal cord injury and scoliosis genetics research program, receiving the Scoliosis Research Society Award and the Best New Investigator Award. He founded the Cary Orthopaedic Spinal Research Foundation and conducted cell growth research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
Services:
- Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMC) Stem Cell Therapy: Autologous stem cells harvested from the patient’s pelvic bone marrow under local anesthesia, concentrated, and injected into degenerative spinal discs or facet joints. The entire procedure takes approximately one hour with same-day discharge. Typical cost is around $5,000, not covered by insurance.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: Autologous PRP prepared from patient blood and injected under imaging guidance for spinal and joint pathology.
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: For the minority of patients whose conditions progress beyond non-operative management, Dr. Mathur performs minimally invasive spinal surgical procedures with shorter recovery times than traditional open approaches.
- Interventional Pain Management: Non-operative pain management including epidural steroid injections and facet joint procedures.
Conditions Treated:
- Degenerative disc disease
- Herniated and bulging discs
- Facet joint arthritis
- Spinal stenosis
- Annular disc tears
- Chronic low back pain and neck pain
- Sciatica
- Spondylosis
Technology and Equipment: Fluoroscopic and imaging guidance for spinal injection procedures; bone marrow harvest and same-day concentration for autologous BMC therapy; minimally invasive surgical suite.
Insurance and Pricing: Consultation and standard orthopaedic visits typically covered by insurance. Stem cell therapy (BMC) is a cash-pay procedure averaging approximately $5,000, not covered by insurance. PRP and other regenerative procedures are similarly cash-pay.
3. New Life Health and Wellness
Address: 6224 Fayetteville Rd, Suite 106A, Durham, NC 27713
Phone: (919) 533-5655
Website: https://www.newlifedurham.com
About: New Life Health and Wellness is a pain management and regenerative medicine clinic located in southern Durham, on Fayetteville Road near the NC 147 / I-40 interchange, making it accessible to patients from both Durham and southern Research Triangle communities. The clinic offers a non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical approach to chronic pain and joint conditions, using regenerative tissue therapies, platelet-rich plasma, IV therapy, and laser therapy as its primary treatment modalities. The clinic’s primary regenerative offering is human cellular tissue therapy derived from Wharton’s Jelly, the gelatinous substance found in umbilical cord tissue, which contains mesenchymal stem cell-derived growth factors, cytokines, and structural proteins. The clinic draws a clinical distinction between this Wharton’s Jelly-derived human cellular tissue therapy and autologous stem cell therapy (which uses the patient’s own cells), clearly noting on its website that the treatments it offers are not technically considered stem cell therapy in the autologous sense but have demonstrated clinical utility for pain relief and tissue support. This transparency about the nature of its biological products is a positive signal for patients comparing clinics. New Life Health and Wellness operates Monday through Saturday by appointment, with hours from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Free consultations are available by phone. The practice accepts patients from Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Southpoint Durham, Parkwood, and surrounding communities. The clinic is registered in the NPI database as a nurse practitioner-level provider, and prospective patients are encouraged to directly confirm the credentials of their treating provider at the time of consultation.
Physicians and Providers:
- New Life Health and Wellness is registered under an NPI taxonomy consistent with nurse practitioner-level practice. Prospective patients should confirm the credentials and license type of their treating provider directly with the clinic at (919) 533-5655 prior to scheduling. Physician oversight structure and supervising MD or DO affiliation should be verified directly with the practice.
Services:
- Human Cellular Tissue Therapy (Wharton’s Jelly-Derived): The clinic’s primary regenerative treatment uses tissue derived from umbilical cord Wharton’s Jelly, which contains growth factors and cellular signaling compounds associated with tissue repair. The clinic distinguishes this from autologous stem cell therapy and notes it is not the same as treatments using the patient’s own cells, though it is used for similar pain and joint relief indications.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: Concentration of the patient’s own platelet growth factors for injection into areas of joint pain, tendinopathy, or chronic tissue injury.
- IV Therapy: Intravenous infusion protocols for systemic support, hydration, and nutrient delivery.
- Laser Therapy: Low-level laser or photobiomodulation therapy applied to areas of musculoskeletal pain and inflammation to support tissue healing.
Conditions Treated:
- Knee pain and osteoarthritis
- Hip pain and joint degeneration
- Shoulder pain
- Elbow pain
- Foot pain and plantar fasciitis
- Arthritis (general)
- Degenerative joint disease
- Chronic pain and neuropathy
- Diabetes-related conditions
What to Know Before Choosing a Stem Cell Clinic in Durham
The first and most important step before choosing any stem cell or regenerative medicine clinic in Durham is to verify the credentials of the physician who will be treating you — not the clinic brand, not the administrative staff, but the specific provider who will perform the procedure. North Carolina physician license status is publicly searchable at ncmedboard.org; enter the physician’s name and confirm the license is active and in good standing with no disciplinary actions. Board certification can be verified at certificationmatters.org for MD specialists. For the specific clinics listed in this directory, Dr. Dickens holds board certification in orthopaedic surgery and can be verified through Duke Health’s provider directory, and Dr. Mathur holds board certification in orthopaedic surgery in spinal surgery and can be verified through Healthgrades, Doximity, and US News Doctors. For any clinic where the treating provider is a nurse practitioner or physician assistant rather than an MD or DO, patients should confirm what supervising physician oversight is in place and whether that physician is present during procedures.
Before your consultation, gather any relevant imaging you already have: X-rays, MRI reports, or ultrasound studies of the area you are seeking to treat. Durham-area spine and joint clinics at this level — particularly Mathur Spine Surgery and the Duke Sports Sciences Institute — review existing imaging before recommending any regenerative procedure. Arriving with imaging in hand shortens the timeline to treatment and gives the physician the anatomical context needed to assess whether you are a good candidate. If you do not have recent imaging, ask whether the clinic orders its own diagnostic imaging prior to treatment, and what that process looks like. A clinic that proceeds to treatment without any imaging review for a joint or spinal condition is a meaningful quality concern.
Questions about injection guidance technology are worth asking explicitly. Ultrasound guidance and fluoroscopic guidance both substantially improve the accuracy of needle placement compared to unguided landmark injection, and accuracy of placement directly affects whether the regenerative material reaches the target tissue. Fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons typically perform all injections under real-time imaging as standard of care. Ask any Durham clinic: under what imaging guidance are your injections performed, and who specifically performs the procedure? If the answer is “the nurse” or “our PA” for a complex joint or spinal injection, that warrants further inquiry. The difference between a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon injecting under fluoroscopy and an unguided injection by a mid-level provider is clinically significant.
Finally, Durham patients should calibrate their expectations around the evidence base for different treatment types. PRP for knee osteoarthritis and chronic tendinopathy has the strongest and most consistent body of randomized controlled trial evidence in the regenerative medicine field. Autologous bone marrow concentrate for degenerative disc disease has a smaller but growing evidence base. Allogeneic products such as Wharton’s Jelly-derived tissue have mechanistic plausibility and increasing clinical use data, but fewer large-scale controlled trials. No regenerative medicine clinic — including those affiliated with major academic medical centers — should promise guaranteed results. A physician who clearly explains what the evidence supports for your specific condition, acknowledges what remains investigational, and structures your treatment within a realistic clinical plan is a far stronger indicator of quality than one who makes broad outcome claims. Durham’s proximity to Duke and the broader Research Triangle means patients here have access to some of the most rigorously trained regenerative medicine practitioners in the Southeast; finding them and asking the right questions is the patient’s essential first step.
Disclaimer: This directory is for informational purposes only. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement. All clinic information, physician credentials, addresses, phone numbers, and pricing were compiled from publicly available sources as of February 2026 and may have changed. Verify all credentials independently through the North Carolina Medical Board (ncmedboard.org) and consult a licensed physician before pursuing any medical treatment.