Congratulations to the following award recipients!

Jeannie F. Bailey, PhD, University of California, San Francisco
Devina Purmessur, PhD, The Ohio State University

David Lillyman, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Garrett Easson, Washington University in St. Louis

John Martin, PhD, Duke University
In vivo fluid Transport in Human Intervertebral Discs Varies by Spinal Level, Disc Region, and Degeneration Grade

Tyler DiStefano, BEng, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Bioadhesive Optimization and Cytocompatibility Assessment of a Novel Two-part Strategy for Annular Repair 

Kieran Joyce, BMedSci, National University of Galway, Ireland
Identification of Glycomic-Based Therapeutics: Complete Characterization of the N-Glycan Profile of the Intervertebral Disc in IVD Degeneration

Nicolas Vedrenne, INSERM U1229 RMES
Optimized Strategy for the Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Notochordal-Like Cells: Application to Intervertebral Disc Regenerative Medicine 

Stephen Sloan, MS, Cornell University
Imaging the Local Biochemical Content of the Intervertebral Disc using Fourier Transform Infrared Microscopy

Matthew Veras, Western University
Behavioral Assessment of Mobility and Pain in a Mouse Model of Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
Co-Authors: Dale Fournier, Diana Quinonez, Magali Millecamps, Laura Stone, Cheryle Seguin

Elizabeth Kahle, Drexel University
Biomimetic Proteoglycans Modulate the Biomechanics of Cartilage Pericellular Matrix
Co-Authors: Biao Han, Prashant Chandrasekaran, Chao Wang, Evan Phillips, Katsiaryna Prudnikova, Michele Marcolongo, Lin Han

Alon Lai, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Sex Dependent Effects of Leptin Receptor Deficiency and Western Diet on the Spine in a Type 2 Diabetes Mouse Model
Co-Authors: Devorah Mincha Natelson, Divya Krishnamoorthy, Rob Hoy, James Iatridis, Svenja Illien-Jϋnger

Harshtih Alluri, BSc, Hospital for Special Surgery
Effects of Immobilization on Sonic Hedgehog Expression by the Nucleus Pulposus Cells of Skeletally Mature Mouse Intervertebral Discs
Co-Authors: Vikrant Piprode, Sohrab Virik, Kathleen VIncent, Robert Pinelli, Todd Albert, Chitra Dahia  

Marcos Barcellona, Washington University in St. Louis
Engineering Laminin-Mimetic Peptide Systems for 2D and 3D Support of NP Cell Culture
Co-Authors: Julie Speer, Bailey Fearing, Liufang Jing, Munish Gupta, Michael Kelly, Lukas Zebala, Jacob Buchowski, Lori Setton 

Chandreshkumar Patel, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Defining the Role of HAPLN1 in Susceptibility to Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Co-Authors: Anas Khanshour, Yared Kidane, Jimin Pei, Nick Grishin, Jonathan Rios, Carol Wise 

Matthew Mannarino, McGill University
Senolytics as a Potential Treatment Option in Painful Degenerating Intervertebral Discs
Co-Authors:  Kai Sheng, Lisbet Haglund

Hagar Kenawy, Columbia University
Inflammatory Response of Rat Caudal Intervertebral Discs to Ex Vivo Dynamic Loading
Co-Authors: Samantha Marshall, Andy Lee, Quynhhoa Nguyen, Clark Hung, Nadeen Chahine 

Beth Ashinsky, BA, University of Pennsylvania
Machine Learning Identifies Primary Features of In Vivo Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Co-Authors: Chao Wang, Sai Mandalapu, Edward Bonnevie, Stephen Pickup, Lin Han, Robert Mauck, Harvey Smith, Sarah Gullbrand

Jennifer Gansau, Trinity College Dublin
Altering the Local Acidic Microenvironment of the Degenerated Intervertebral Disc using Injectable Antacid Microcapsules
Co-Authors: Emily McDonnell, Conor Buckley

Joshua Stover, University of Utah
Epigenome Editing of Sensory Neuron Ion Channels Reduced Degenerative IVD Induced Mechanical Nociception
Co-Authors: Brandon Lawrence, Jared Zitnay, Jeffrey Weiss, Robby Bowles 

Ayesha Firdous, University of Pittsburgh
Selective Silencing of p38 MAPK Isoforms Differentially Regulate Transcription Profile of Genes Controlling Matrix Homeostasis in Human Nucleus Pulposus Cells Under Inflammatory