Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease for which no efficient therapy is available. The ADIPOA consortium has previously shown that intraarticular injections of stromal cells prevents OA in two different models, but the mechanisms of this chondroprotective effect remains unknown, and the activation of cartilage derived endogenous stem cells is suspected. The participants have experience on cell therapy, logistic and production facilities for adipose derived stromal cells (ASC) and clinical studies focusing on cartilage repair. They have shown that stromal cells have anti-inflammatory and antiapoptosis effets, prevent cells from senescence and protect endogenous cells from oxidative stress. ASC are well described, and the procedure to expand the ASC in GMP clinical grade by one of us has been approved by regulatory authorities. This has prompted us to propose an original and innovative regenerative medicine approach for OA in a four years programme organised around 6 workpackages : · WP 1 ASC biology, cell processing & optimization for chondral protection · WP 2 In vivo validation of chondroprotective effect of ASC · WP 3 Safety, Security & regulatory issues · WP 4 Clinical trial endogenous ASC injected intraarticular in OA · WP 5 Management and Coordination · WP 6 Training and Education ADIPOA project will then lead to the optimisation and standardisation of production procedures. In vivo validation and optimisation shall lead to a phase 1 clinical trial and the design and initiation of a phase 2 controlled study in OA. The ADIPOA Consortium comprises 10 academic and 2 sme participants and gathers researchers and clinicians with expertise in clinical research, chondrocytes and adipose stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. The Sme participation will ensure the dissemination of the project results. The critical mass achieved by the ADIPOA Consortium should enable clinical applications in OA.