Amy L. McNulty, PhD
Dr. Amy L. McNulty, PhD is an Associate Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery and an Associate Professor in Pathology at Duke University School of Medicine. She also holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University. She completed her Bachelor in Science degree from Virginia Tech and PhD in Pathology with a certificate in Cell and Molecular Biology from Duke University. She completed Post-doctoral training in Orthopaedics and Bioengineering at Duke University School of Medicine. She is an active member of the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) and current Member-at-Large on the Board of Directors. She has previously served as Secretary, Research and Education Chair, Chair Elect, Chair, and Past Chair for the Meniscus Section. Her laboratory is working on developing strategies to prevent osteoarthritis and to promote tissue repair and regeneration following joint injury. In order to accomplish this, the lab is working in four main areas: 1) To understand the pathways that are activated by normal and injurious mechanical loading of cartilage and meniscus and how these mechanotransduction pathways are altered during aging, injury, and tissue degeneration, 2) To develop meniscus tissue engineered constructs that will be utilized to repair and replace meniscus tissue lost due to injury and surgical resection, 3) Focusing on the biological and biomechanical changes that occur in the joint following meniscus injury and how these may contribute to post-traumatic osteoarthritis development, and 4) Exploring how exposure to blood and its components affects meniscus tissue homeostasis and repair. Dr. McNulty’s research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) with funding provided by the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF), VA Rehabilitation Research Service Merit Review awards, and the Arthritis Foundation.
The Meniscus Section proudly presents the inaugural ORS Meniscus Momentum Award to honor a mid-career investigator who has demonstrated impactful research contributions to the meniscus field, as well as excellence in collaboration, mentorship, innovation, and service to the ORS Meniscus Section.
Nomination Eligibility Criteria
The nominee must:
- Be an ORS Member and Meniscus Section member in good standing.
- Have held an independent faculty position (or equivalent) for 3–10 years. *Please Note: Appropriate consideration will be given to individuals who have taken a career break (e.g., parental leave, sick leave), work in systems with differing time-to-independence expectations, or who followed an alternative academic path. Please provide relevant context in the nomination materials.
- Have demonstrated a sustained impact on the meniscus field through their research.
- Demonstrated clear evidence of engagement with the ORS Meniscus Section, including but not limited to participation as an attendee, speaker, panelist, or committee member.
- Have exemplified collegiality, collaboration, mentorship, and innovation in their academic and professional activities.
Nomination Process
Nominations from colleagues or self-nominations are equally encouraged. A single letter describing how the nominee fits the nomination criteria above is required for the nomination as well as either an NIH-style biosketch or maximum 5-page CV that highlights the nomination criteria.
Submissions Now Closed.
Evaluation
Nominations will be reviewed by a subcommittee of the ORS Meniscus Section Executive Committee. Evaluations will be made using the rubric below based on the nominee’s:
- Innovation in meniscus research
- Engagement with the ORS Meniscus Section
- Collegiality and mentorship
- Community engagement
- ORS/Meniscus Section membership status
In the case of a conflict of interest (e.g., a subcommittee member is nominated or is from the same institution as a nominee), that individual will be required to recuse themselves from the review process.
Award Recognition
The awardee will be honored at the ORS Meniscus Section Meeting during the ORS 2026 Annual Meeting and will be invited to deliver a brief award acceptance address.
