Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Institute for Engineering and Medicine
Virginia Commonwealth University

Vision & Purpose

“What inspired the launch of this Section, and what core problem does it aim to solve?”

This section was inspired by a shared passion to address critical questions surrounding muscle disorders and injuries, and by the desire to establish a dedicated home for translational research in skeletal muscle. Over the past 3–4 years, this vision has taken shape through the collective efforts of several key faculty, including Dr. Koyal Garg, Dr. Hongshuai Li, Dr. Woojin Han, Dr. Sarah Greising, Dr. Karina Nakayama, and myself.

Skeletal muscle disorders and injuries represent not only medical challenges but also significant societal burdens. They contribute to disability, chronic pain, rising healthcare costs, and reduced productivity. Although skeletal muscle demonstrates a remarkable capacity to regenerate following mild injuries, its ability to recover from severe trauma or chronic conditions—such as age-related degeneration, muscular dystrophies, and other myopathies—remains profoundly limited and often incomplete. Addressing these gaps in knowledge holds the potential to transform strategies for muscle repair, rehabilitation, and regeneration. Ultimately, such advances could fill a critical void in orthopedic care and offer new hope for improving patient outcomes and overall quality of life.

Impact & Goals

“What outcomes do you hope to see in the first year, and how will success be measured?”

In the first year, our goals are to establish the section, foster a community that promotes cross-disciplinary research, and recruit new scientists engaged in skeletal muscle research to ORS. We will measure success by tracking the number of abstracts submitted to the 2027 ORS Annual Meeting that include skeletal muscle research as well as interdisciplinary studies linking skeletal muscle with other orthopedic tissues. Additional metrics will include the number of newly registered ORS members who identify skeletal muscle as their research focus and their subsequent participation in the Skeletal Muscle Section.

Team & Collaboration

“What strengths do the new Section Officers bring, and how do those strengths set this initiative up for success?”

The key strengths of the new Section Officers include prior experience serving as ORS Section Officers, successful research portfolios, long-standing ORS membership, and a strong commitment to advancing translational research in skeletal muscle and developing new therapies. These qualities provide a solid foundation for establishing and sustaining a successful new section. Prior leadership experience within ORS is particularly valuable for navigating the challenges of launching a section, maintaining momentum beyond the first year, and ensuring long-term growth. In addition, each officer’s established research portfolio highlights contributions to critical areas of orthopedic medicine. This dedication to impactful research fuels a shared passion for addressing therapeutic challenges and ultimately improving patients’ ability to return to a more normal lifestyle.

Innovation & Challenges

“What’s one unique aspect of the Section that makes it stand out, and what challenges do you anticipate along the way?”

A defining strength of the Skeletal Muscle Section is its commitment to cross-disciplinary research. Many of our members already collaborate with experts in bone, nerve, tendon, and cartilage, and expanding these relationships will remain a central priority. We anticipate challenges similar to those faced by other new sections, including generating strong initial interest, recruiting new ORS members drawn to the Skeletal Muscle Section, and sustaining momentum beyond the first year.

Personal Connection

“What excites you personally about leading this Section?”

I am personally excited to chair the Skeletal Muscle Section because muscle research is a true passion of mine. My perspective has been shaped by personal experiences: having family members with neuromuscular diseases, witnessing the impact of war-related injuries on patients’ quality of life at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and experiencing the thrill of scientific breakthroughs that move us closer to translational therapies. Together, these experiences have given me a deeply personal connection to skeletal muscle research from both clinical and basic science perspectives.