Research Interest Groups (RIGs) facilitate the thoughtful exchange of ideas within the global, multi-disciplinary community of the ORS. They provide opportunities for engaging in informative, transformative, and live discussions with colleagues in specific areas of musculoskeletal research, whether it be basic, applied, clinical, and/or orthopaedic. To explore content that complements or differs from the ORS Annual Meeting, RIGs are encouraged to focus on unique approaches, methodologies, diseases, or connections that inspire brainstorming across our multi-disciplinary groups
Friday, February 7
Friday, February 7
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
North 226
Organizers:
Christopher Panebianco, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, Sonia Bansal, PhD, Duke University, John Drazan, PhD, Fairfield University, Amy Loya, PhD, Union College, Jason Marvin, PhD
Academic career paths are more than research. To advance in the field of orthopaedics, many researchers must also complete scholarly activities like teaching, mentorship, and outreach. Researchers often receive little formal training in these areas; thus, they get overlooked. On the contrary, mindfully implementing teaching strategies in the classroom can help improve research productivity. The purpose of this RIG is to teach educators how teaching can synergistically improve their research, and vice versa, through best practices in the intentional recruitment and management of trainees.
Speakers:
Christopher Panebianco, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Opening Remarks
Lin Han, PhD, Drexel University
Pedagogical Approaches for Recruiting Students to Research
Stephanie Moore-Lotridge, PhD, Vanderbilt University
Research as a Form of Education for Medicine Students
Lori Setton, PhD, Washington University
Research Pedagogies in the Classroom
Friday, February 7
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
North 224
Organizers:
Jeffry Nyman, PhD, Vanderbilt University, Christopher Hernandez, PhD, University of California, San Francisco, Rachel Surowiec, PhD, Purdue University
Low bone mass contributes to osteoporosis, but most osteoporotic fractures occur in individuals with a bone mass that does not qualify as osteoporosis. With new research identifying biological and matrix-related mechanisms responsible for promoting and impeding the fracture resistance of bone, there are opportunities to gain new insights into how age- and disease-related changes in bone quality contribute to osteoporosis. The purpose of this RIG is to identify biological and physicochemical drivers of osteoporosis that can be developed to improve bone health and go beyond increasing bone mass. Doing so recognizes the importance of the extracellular matrix and its hierarchical organization to the fracture resistance of bone.
Speakers:
Elise Morgan, PhD, Boston University
Role of The Vertebral Bony Endplate in Osteoporosis
Nancy Pleshko, PhD, Temple University
Infrared-Derived Compositional Data Yields Insight into Bone Quality Contributions to Bone Fragility
Deepak Vashishth, PhD, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Advanced Glycation End-Products (AGEs) in Bone Come of Age: Implications for Osteoporosis
Thomas Willett, PhD, University of Waterloo
Poor Bone Tissue Quality due to Oxidative Damage of Bone Collagen
Friday, February 7
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
North 229
Organizers:
Wan-Ju Li, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Naoki Nakayama, PhD, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Johnny Huard, PhD, Steadman Philippon Research Institute
Building on the success of the past two years’ events, we aim to host another session at the 2025 ORS annual conference. Stem cells and their therapeutic potential are key focal points of research, emphasizing the importance of convening ORS members to discuss the latest advancements in stem cell research within orthopedics. The goals for this symposium are threefold:
1. To unite researchers in forming a research interest group dedicated to stem cells and musculoskeletal regenerative medicine. 2. To establish a collaborative platform for stem cell scientists within ORS to exchange research findings and embark on joint projects. 3. To offer an educational forum for ORS members to stay updated on the latest in stem cell research and its orthopedic applications.
Speakers:
Frank Barry, PhD, University of Galway
MSCs – Roadblocks in Clinical Assessment
Noriaki Ono, DDS, PhD, UT Health, School of Dentistry
Essential Roles of Skeletal Stem Cells in Development, Diseases, and Regeneration
Wan-Ju Li, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Neural Crest Cells as a Promising Source for Chondrocyte Derivation in Joint Repair
Friday, February 7
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
North 227
Organizers:
Alberto Carli, MD, Hospital for Special Surgery, Dustin Williams, PhD, University of Utah, Pankaj Malhotra, MD, Bactiguard AB
Orthopaedic infections complicated by antibiotic resistant organisms have increased morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this RIG will be to discuss the problem and present upcoming potential solutions to the problem.
Speakers:
Bingyun Li, PhD, West Viginia University
Challenges and Opportunities for Implant-Associated Orthopedic Infections
Chad Testa, PhD, Curza Global
Developing New Antibiotics in a Non-Conducive Antibiotic Development Era
Brian de Beaubien, MD, Osteal Therapeutics
Clinical Trial Outcomes and Path Forward for Osteal Therapeutics
Saturday, February 8
Saturday, February 8
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
West 301D
Organizers:
Brianne Connizzo, PhD, Boston University, Jenny Robinson, PhD, University of Washington, Paula Hernandez, PhD, University of Texas at Southwestern
Addressing the recent initiative promoted by President Biden and the First Lady Dr. Jill Biden on women’s health, we propose to expand the discussion on sex differences and women’s health within the ORS. At the 2024 ORS Annual Meeting, we hosted a symposium on sex differences in musculoskeletal health with over 150 attendees. Over 100 of these attendees expressed interest following the session on continuing this discussion. One of the largest points of discussion at last year’s symposium centered around what considerations need to be made for this type of research. Questions like: How do we control for the menstrual cycle? What types of controls/conditions do we need to study hormone interactions? Which hormones should we studying, and in which sexes?; How do we appropriately power sex differences studies? How do these considerations change from in vitro studies to rodents to humans? This discussion highlighted a key opportunity for consensus in the field, which we hope to obtain through this 2025 RIG.
Speakers:
Dawn Lowe, PhD, University of Minnesota
Considerations for Preclinical Studies of Hormonal Influence and Sex Differences
X. Sherry Liu, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Studying Pregnancy, Lactation, and Other Sex-Specific Conditions Using Rodent Models
Nancy Lane, MD, University of California, Davis
Sex Differences in Musculoskeletal Diseases. What We Know and What Still Needs Some Research
Saturday, February 8
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
North 226
Organizers:
William Ledoux, PhD, VA Puget Sound, L Daniel Latt, MD, University of Arizona, Amy Lenz, PhD, University of Utah, Karen Kruger, PhD, Marquette University
The Foot and Ankle RIG will advance the science underpinning foot and ankle care by promoting communication and fostering collaborations among individuals interested in foot and ankle science. The purpose is to serve as a network to facilitate the interaction between basic scientists, translational researchers, and clinicians interested in collaborating on studies of foot and ankle science.
Speakers:
Barbara Postolka, PhD, Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group (HMBRG)
In vitro, in vivo, in silico Modelling of the Foot-ankle Complex: Insights for Model Development, Validation, and Application
Karen Kruger, PhD, Marquette University and Amy Lenz, PhD, University of Utah
Standardizing Terminology, 3D Spatial Orientation, and Relative Positioning of the Foot and Ankle Bones: An Expert Consensus Task Force
Saturday, February 8
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
West 301BC
Organizers:
Rachel Miller, PhD, Rush University, Arin Oestrich, PhD, Washington University, Brian Diekman, PhD, University of North Carolina
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a heterogeneous disease involving multiple organ systems which influence disease development and progression. This complexity requires an interdisciplinary approach to address the substantial challenges for developing new solutions to treat and prevent OA. The goal of this program is to leverage interdisciplinary strengths to stimulate and propose new strategic scientific approaches that exist at the interface between disciplines. The discussion theme will focus on obesity as a risk factor for OA and the effect of therapeutic weight loss on tissues within the knee joint and systemic interactions with peripheral organ systems. The speaker panel will consist of experts in sarcopenic obesity, diabetes & weight loss drugs, and exercise and movement who will discuss research and clinical considerations for orthopedic obesity research. This interdisciplinary consortium will bring together experts from different training backgrounds to discuss critical molecular and mechanical drivers of OA and specific considerations for co-morbid diseases.
Speakers:
Francis Berenbaum, MD, PhD, Sorbonne University, INSERM, AP-HP, Paris, France
GLP-1 Agonists and OA: Unveiling the Joint Benefits of Intraarticular Liraglutide
Louis DeFrate, ScD, Duke University
Obesity, Cartilage Mechanics, and Joint Health
Kristine Godziuk, PhD, University of California, San Francisco
Does Muscle Matter? Considerations of Sarcopenic Obesity in OA
Hope Welhaven, PhD, University of California, San Francisco
The Metabolome of Male and Female Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis is Influenced by 18-Months of Weight Loss Intervention: The IDEA Trial
Saturday, February 8
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
North 221
Organizers:
Shane Shapiro, MD, Mayo Clinic, Scott Rodeo, MD Hospital for Special Surgery, Daniel Grande, PhD, Northwell Health
The field of orthobiologics in orthopedics is growing rapidly but lacks critical scientific evidence. The purpose of this RIG is to provide evidence-based medicine to the various techniques currently employed in the clinic.
Speakers:
Shane Shapiro, MD, Mayo Clinic, Orthobiologics
Overview
Susan Drapeau, PhD, Bruder Consulting & Venture Group
Do’s and Don’ts’s of Orthobiologic Product Development
Scott Rodeo, MD, Hospital for Special Surgery
PRP Updates
Jeff Donner, MD, Colorado Spine Institute
BMAC and improvements upon: BMAX
Daniel Grande, PhD, Northwell Health
Exosomes and Mitochondrial transplantation for OA
Questions for Panel
Monday, February 10
Monday, February 10
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
West 301D
Organizers:
Hannah Dailey, PhD, Lehigh University, Karen Troy, PhD, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Digital twins are virtual representations of physical systems. In medicine, digital twins usually start with imaging data and incorporate a physics-based model for outcomes assessment or decision-making. Digital twins methodologies and applications are currently the subject of widespread interest and federal research investment. This session will provide cross-cutting examples of how digital twins can enrich preclinical and clinical studies in orthopaedics and identify challenges and opportunities in this nascent field. For biologists and clinicians, this session will help answer the question, “How can I get more out of my study by incorporating outcomes from digital twins?” For modelers, this session will present strategies for achieving translational impact via partnerships with in vivo researchers. The goal of this session is to inspire ORS members ranging from modeling experts to those interested in modeling to seek out new connections for innovative cross-disciplinary research that integrates digital twins.
Speakers:
Mariana Kersh, PhD, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Assessing the Benefits and Risk of Physical Activity Using Digital Twins
Hannah Lundberg, PhD, Rush University
Multidisciplinary Teams: Essential for Achieving Translational Impact with Finite Element Models
Caitlyn Collins, PhD, Virginia Tech University
Seeing Double: Image-Based Approaches for Assessing in Vivo Bone Remodeling and Mechanoregulation
Dennis Janssen, PhD, Radboud University
Digital Twins for Population-Based Modelling of Total Knee Arthroplasty
