Orthopaedic Research Newsletter

March 2025

Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting

ORS 2025 Annual Meeting

This year's Orthopaedic Research Society annual meeting was held at the Phoenix Convention Center on February 7 - 11, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. The ORS annual meeting brings the orthopaedic community together for five days of scientific education, workshops, networking, exhibits, poster sessions, and much more. The University of Michigan Department of Orthopaedic Surgery faculty, staff, and trainees were authors/presenters on more than 20 presentations that were given (orals, posters, symposia, and keynotes). Also, congratulations to Dr. Michelle Caird for receiving the 2025 Women’s Leadership Forum Award!

Save the date for next year's ORS 2026 annual meeting on March 27 - 31, 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina!

Welcome New Orthopaedic Research Faculty!

Dr. Annemarie Lang, PhD (she/her)

Assistant Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery

Dr. Annemarie Lang earned her veterinary degree and doctoral degree (Dr. med. vet./DVM) at Freie Universität Berlin and completed a PhD with a specialization in Regenerative Therapies and Biomedical Sciences, followed by postdoctoral training at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.  

As a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow with Joel D. Boerckel, PhD at the University of Pennsylvania, She investigated local oxygenation within the fracture gap and discovered that bone fractures initiate localized erythropoiesis, which regulates oxygen levels and drives subsequent repair. These discoveries now form the foundation of her research program. She concluded her postdoctoral training in the lab of Prof. Michael Gelinsky at the Carl Gustav Carus Medical Hospital, Technical University Dresden. 

In January 2025, Dr. Lang joined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Michigan as a tenure-track Assistant Professor, contributing to the Engineering Cell Programmable Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine Scientific Research Initiative.  

For Further information on Dr. Lang's research: Lang Laboratory 


Dr. Lang is expanding her team and looking for talented individuals at various levels to contribute to some exciting work. Please look at the following postings and feel free to spread the word! Apply for Lang Laboratory! 


Available Position: 

Annemarie Lang, PhD

Assistant Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery

Research Highlight

Rhima Coleman, PhD

Associate Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery & Biomedical Engineering

Rhima Coleman, PhD

Associate Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery & Biomedical Engineering

Dr. Coleman joined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in August 2024.  Her work addresses one of the prevalent causes of OA development: unrepaired traumatic articular cartilage injury. She established the Cartilage Healing and Regeneration lab at Michigan with the specific intent of transforming the way cartilage injury, repair, and disease progression are studied. Broadly, her lab focuses on precision medicine approaches that range from reprogramming intracellular signaling up to modeling whole joint mechanics to understand and modify these systems at their respective length scales. Her research specifically focuses on engineering stem cells to self-regulate their phenotype using novel gene circuits; systems-level evaluation of stem cell chondrogenesis and maturation; and whole knee biomechanics.

At the cell level, Dr. Coleman leads an NSF RECODE project in collaboration with the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics. This work focuses on developing digital twins of stem cells as they transform into cartilage-producing cells. These computational simulations help identify key genetic regulators of cell state transitions and ultimately will be used to fine-tune genetic reprogramming strategies targeted at enhancing cartilage regeneration. Additionally, these gene circuits are being explored as disease modifying therapeutics for osteoarthritis.

At the whole-joint level, Dr. Coleman collaborates with the Department of Mechanical Engineering to apply finite element modeling to human knee repair. By analyzing joint mechanics, her research aims to uncover potential mechanisms underlying osteochondral allograft failure, ultimately improving long-term outcomes for these patients. 

 Congratulations!

Congratulations NCRC Team! 

Certified Platinum Sustainable Laboratories

The Orthopaedic Surgery labs at the North Campus Research Complex recently were certified as Platinum Sustainable Laboratories!  This certification results from several sustainable actions the labs took, including reducing energy use, increasing recycling opportunities, and getting everyone trained as Planet Blue Ambassadors. This award includes the Abraham, Jepsen, and Killian labs, as well as the histology and nanoCT cores.

Link: Orthopaedic Surgery-Office of Campus Sustainability

From Left Top: Karl Jepsen, Bonnie Nolan, Subhajit Konar, Stephanie Steltzer, Megan Killian, Nicole Migtosky, Carol Whitenger, Erin Bigelow

From Left Bottom: Andrea Clark, Emma Snyder-White, Moaid Shaik, Lainie Eisner, LeeAnn Flowers

Congratulations Hsiao H. Sung!

 2025 André Schroeder Research Prize for Pre-clinical Research

Hsiao Sung received the 2025 André Schroeder Research Prize for Pre-clinical Research from the International Team for Implantology (ITI)!

 

The ITI is the largest international academic organization focused on implant dentistry and tissue regeneration.  Hsiao was recognized for her recently published paper in Bone titled Sclerostin antibody enhances implant osseointegration in bone with Col1a1 mutation

 

Hsiao will be honored in Paris at the upcoming ITI Annual Global Conference and will be featured in an upcoming article in the ITI membership magazine. Congratulations to Hsiao and all of her co-authors who participated in the study!

Congratulations Dr. Alex Knights!

Assitant Professor at Washington University

Dr. Alexander Knights completed a successful postdoctoral stint in the Michigan ORL, he will be starting his own research laboratory as Assistant Professor at Washington University (WashU) in St. Louis, in March 2025. Dr. Knights originally joined the ORL in 2020 via a Pioneer Fellowship to train under the mentorship of Kurt Hankenson, DVM, PhD and Tristan Maerz, PhD. His work has uncovered important molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive post-traumatic osteoarthritis, and he was awarded a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from NIAMS in 2023 to support his transition towards building an independent research program. Dr. Knights will join WashU's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery to continue pioneering studies on how cells and tissue within (and beyond) the joint interact to maintain homeostasis, and how this crosstalk breaks down after joint injury. He will greatly miss the dynamic collaborative environment of the ORL and the amazing collegiality he has experienced during his time here at Michigan, but is excited to start his next chapter. Go Blue!

Dr. Alexander Knights and his family at a U of M football game.

Engagement Opportunities 

Phyllis M. Blackman Innovation Grants

Application Link is NOW open through 3/14/25.


The Phyllis M. Blackman Innovation Grants honor the contributions of former Office for Health Equity and Inclusion Director, and Anti-Racism Oversight Committee Co-Chair, Phyllis M. Blackman, who retired in 2021. Phyllis was a catalyst for change and an advocate for diversity at Michigan Medicine and in our community.

This mini-grant program was originally created in 2017 as an opportunity to acknowledge, inform, reinvigorate, and refocus departmental and unit efforts on activities that promote respect for, and learning about others. The grant program is funded by the Office of the Executive Vice-President for Medical Affairs and the Dean of the Medical School. Grant submissions should align with the strategic priorities of Michigan Medicine. 

For further details: Phyllis M. Blackman Innovation Grants 

Dr. Eugenia South, MSHP,  Perelman School of Medicine

Keynote: Dismantling Structural Racism 

from Within Academic Medicine 

In early 2020, Dr. Eugenia South was in her 4th year as faculty and had achieved early success — a career development award, her first R01, and a growing national reputation. But she was stressed, constantly fatigued, and even experienced shame. Dr. South often wondered: What do I need to do to prove myself? Am I doing enough? Am I enough?


The Spark to Change

COVID and the murder of George Floyd changed everything for Dr. South. Working in the ER while trying to maintain research productivity and raising 3 young children suddenly without childcare necessitated stripping down to the bare essentials. She also jumped into intense institutional activism, quickly reaching a point of career crisis. Through coaching and therapy, Dr. South began to rebuild. Through a series of small changes around how she approached work and large mindset shifts around who she was at work, she transformed the experience of her career to one of energy, abundance, and joy.

This event is open to faculty and staff  

When: March 12, 2025, 12:00pm-1:00pm

Where: Zoom or Dow Auditorium 

Register: Dismantling Structural Racism 

Save the Dates for the upcoming Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Grand Rounds!

March 6th, 2025 | Dr. Serena Hu, Stanford Health Care

June 12th, 2025 | Dr. Cherice Hill, University of Rochester

(2025-2026 schedule coming soon!)


Volunteer Opportunities & Mentorship Connections 

Volunteers needed for POMSI (PrideOrtho Medical Student Initiative) Skills workshop May 10th (contact Liz Dailey, edailey@med.umich.edu)


Volunteers needed for Youth Summit at the Big House on May 10th 

(contact Megan Killian, mlkillia@med.umich.edu)


Are you interested in mentoring undergraduate students in orthopaedics this summer? 

Sign up as a mentor for the inaugural M-SOAR program! https://forms.gle/3Sg84ZSqfPRigqNL6

Dr. Serena Hu, Stanford Medicine

Research Resource Spotlight

Dragonfly Training 

Did you know we are offering training on "Nano/MicroCT image analysis skill building using Dragonfly software"? Training is for all skill levels! Bring your image files to the training, and get real-time guidance.

Each training session is split up into two modules. The first hour will cover basic features of using Dragonfly and image analysis. The second hour will go over more advanced features such as using our new neural nets and streamlined procedures for analyzing mouse femurs.

To register for a Dragonfly training session visit: https://mimhc.med.umich.edu/education 

For further questions about the training, contact Rob Goulet at rgoulet@med.umich.edu 

Space Updates

The administrative staff, Melissa Li and Sarah Boston, shared office has moved to a new location. They are now in Room 2018 on the second floor of the Biomedical Science Research Building (BSRB), formerly the mailroom.

The mail station has been relocated to Floor 2, S04 (next to Room 2013) under the stairs.

Recent Publications

Upcoming Funding Opportunities and Deadlines


Mindful March 

This month, Actions for Happiness presents Mindful March! Take time to practice mindfulness for yourself and those around you. Embrace the beauty of nature wherever you are, or shift your focus to the positive things you often overlook. Challenge yourself to be more mindful of at least two things this month! 

"The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness." Jon Kabat-Zinn

Administrative Team

Melissa Li

Research Manager

for research operations

Kaileigh Stuchlik

Research Admin Manager

for research administration

Andrea Rusnak

Clinical Research Project Manager 

for clinical research

Sarah Boston

Admin Assistant Specialist 

for admin support