Research Highlights: Transforming Science into Patient Care

Adele L. Boskey, PhD received the Orthopaedic Research Society/ American Orthopaedic Association Alfred R. Shands, Jr. Award given annually in recognition of life-long achievement and contributions to orthopaedic research and furthering knowledge in the field of musculoskeletal disease. Learn more

Mary Goldring, PhD was elected fourth Vice President of the Orthopaedic Research Society. The announcement, at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, confirms Dr. Goldring’s path toward assuming the presidency in five years. Learn more

Registries provide the foundation for clinical trials, translational research, and treatment innovation. HSS has created more than 30 registries including the Hip, Knee and Shoulder Arthroplasty Registries, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Services ACL Registry, Center for Hip Pain and Preservation Registry, Autoimmune Disease Registry, and Scleroderma Registry. Read more and learn how to participate

Jane Salmon, MD is Principal Investigator on a multi-center NIH-funded research initiative, the PROMISSE study, to identify predictors of poor pregnancy outcomes in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study is providing insights on the genes and cellular pathways that can affect pregnancy in lupus patients and, potentially, cause miscarriage and preeclampsia in healthy women. Learn more

Alessandra Pernis, MD adds a new dimension to the Autoimmunity and Inflammation Program bringing special expertise in acquired immunity. Dr. Pernis has made novel observations regarding the regulation of inflammation, which plays a critical role in diseases such as lupus and arthritis. She brings experience in animal and genetic models of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus which will help us understand the origins of these disease and develop therapies. Learn more

Lionel Ivashkiv, MD is lead author of a study published in the journal Immunity identifying a cellular pathway involved in turning off inflammation that does not work properly in people with inflammatory arthritis. This is the first study to link this pathway to rheumatoid arthritis and could lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches to treat arthritis. Learn more

Osteoarthritis (OA), a painful and often debilitating joint disease, is a leading cause of disability and the most common underlying condition of patients seeking treatment at Hospital for Special Surgery. While the symptoms of OA are well-known, the root causes of the disease remain unclear. Staffed with the world’s best orthopedic surgeons, musculoskeletal-trained radiologists, biomedical engineers, and basic scientists, and with patients with a wide range of OA symptoms to learn from, HSS is uniquely situated to lead in OA research. Learn more

Investigators have identified a biomarker that could help doctors select patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who will benefit from therapy with drugs such as Enbrel, a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-antagonist drug. While these drugs bring relief to many RA patients, they are not highly effective in 30% to 50% of patients. The study, led by Mary K. Crow, MD, along with researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery in collaboration with rheumatologists at the University of Southern California, was published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism. Learn more

HSS currently receives more than $14 million annually in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support basic and clinical research activities. In addition, research is supported by grants from the Arthritis Foundation, Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, Alliance for Lupus Research, Rheuminations, Inc., Lupus Clinical Trials Consortium, Inc., and others. Learn more