Orthopaedic Research Newsletter

November 2024

American Society for Bone and Mineral Research

2024 ASBMR

September 27-30, 2024, Toronto, ON, CANADA

This year's ASBMR annual meeting was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Center. The ASMBR annual meeting is the world's largest and most diverse meeting focused on bone and mineral metabolism, attracting more than 2,000 attendees from more than 60 countries. The annual meeting hosted nearly 100 education sessions and 1,000 poster presentations. Our department presented multiple poster presentations and oral research presentations. Save the date for next year's ASMBR 2025 annual meeting on September 5, 2025, to be held in Seattle, WA.

Research Highlight

Tristan Maerz, PhD

Associate Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery, Biomedical Engineering, & Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology

Tristan Maerz, PhD 

Associate Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery & Biomedical Engineering, & Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology

Dr. Tristan Maerz has been with the department since 2017. He is an active member of the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) and Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI), which are his primary academic communities. 

Dr. Maerz's research is focused on the mechanisms that underlie the development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis following joint injury. Despite its high prevalence, no disease-modifying treatments exist for osteoarthritis, and the precise causes for the onset of progressive joint degeneration remain largely unclear. With a specific focus on the early post-injury period, Dr. Maerz and his lab are focused on understanding the pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic manifestations that occur in synovium - the inner connective tissue lining of the joint. While most osteoarthritis research has focused on cartilage, bone, and meniscus, recent and emerging evidence suggests that synovial inflammation and fibrosis, i.e. synovitis, is a strong driver of osteoarthritis and highly associated with patient-reported pain and disability. With a strong translational focus towards the development of novel therapeutics, the objective of the multidisciplinary projects in the Maerz lab is to uncover novel injury-induced mechanisms that can then be targeted for preventative and symptom-alleviating treatment.  

 

Active research projects:

Congratulations!

Congratulations, Dr. Mathieu Davis! 

2024 Outstanding Recent Alumni Award

Dr. Mathieu Davis (PhD, ME, 2013), will be recognized as the 2024 University of Michigan College of Engineering Outstanding Recent Alumni at the upcoming College of Engineering Homecoming Awards celebration.  During his PhD, Dr. Davis worked in the Orthopaedic Research Laboratories with Dr. Ken Kozloff and Dr. Michelle Caird on his doctoral dissertation, which explored the fundamental underpinnings of bone fragility of the rare bone disease, osteogenesis imperfecta.  Since graduating, Dr. Davis went to South Africa as a Fulbright Scholar, where he continued to pursue research in biomechanics at the University of Stellenbosch, followed by work as an engineering consultant at Exponent.  Dr. Davis is a recent graduate of Harvard Business School and now serves as a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group.  More information on Dr. Davis's award can be found here

 Research Lab Relocation

Jepsen Lab 

The Jepsen lab has relocated to its permanent space in Building 20 of the North Campus Research Complex (NCRC) in Ann Arbor, MI, and is now fully operational. Histology is expected to transition to its permanent location within the next few weeks.

Jepsen Lab: Where Science Meets Creativity – Bonnie Nolan with Air Plants and LEGO Creations.

North Campus Research Complex (NCRC) 

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion 

Nth Dimensions

University of Michigan Bioskills


If you are interested in volunteering for this event (Saturday, Nov 16th at UH), contact mlkillia@med.umich.edu. We have some opportunities for a few more volunteers!


Date/Time: Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 10:00am to 2:00pm

Location: University of Michigan Medical Center, 1500 E Medical Center Dr Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Focus: Ortho and Derm stations

Dr. Toni McLaurin, NYU Langone Health

Save the Dates for upcoming DEI Grand Rounds!

 December 12th, 2024 | Dr. Toni McLaurin, NYU Langone Health

February 27, 2025 | Dr. Alicia Jacobson, Michigan Medicine

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

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

Have a DEI idea? Submit an anonymous suggestion: DEI Suggestion Box 

For further Orthopaedic DEI  information: Ortho DEI Newsletter 

Welcome New Orthopaedic Research Members!

Lainie Eisner (she/her)

Research Lab Tech Intermediate 

Lainie is originally from northern New Jersey in the NYC Metro area. She graduated from UM with a B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering in 2020 and she is thrilled to be back home after a 4-year hiatus! She recently graduated with an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Cornell University, where she studied tendon fatigue injuries and mechanisms of exercise-mediated tendon repair. She is a huge Michigan sports fan and she also enjoys playing sports and rooting for the Jets, Yankees, Devils, and Liberty in her free time. She is looking forward to working with everyone in the Ortho department - GO BLUE!

Alex Simon (he/him)

Clinical Research Coordinator 

Alex is our new Clinical Research Coordinator supporting our pediatric research service. Alex moved to Michigan in 2020 to start his MS program in Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology. After graduation, he taught biology courses to nursing students and subsequently came back to Michigan Medicine as a Research Technician. Alex has previous experience as a Clinical Research Coordinator in a lab that studied diet interventions for PCOS, prediabetes, and diabetes.  He is looking forward to growing his skills and aiding important research in his new role with orthopaedic surgery.    

Subhajit Konar (he/him)

Postdoctoral Fellow

Subhajit is originally from West Bengal, India. His academic journey began with an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, after which he transitioned to biomedical science for his Master’s. He completed his PhD in Tendon Biology at the University of Auckland, where he investigated how matrix stiffness and architecture affect tendon cell behavior under both healthy and diseased conditions. The results indicate that matrix stiffness and architecture are crucial in regulating tendon cell behavior and alteration of matrix microenvironment is associated with diseased tendon phenotype. Following his PhD, he joined the Killian-Abraham Labs as a postdoctoral fellow. Here, he is exploring tendon cell behavior and inflammatory marker expression in response to matrix stiffness and architecture using a tendon microtissue system. Ultimately, he aspires to become an independent researcher in tendon mechanobiology, focusing on how altered matrix microenvironments impact tendon cell behavior. Outside the lab, Subhajit enjoys cooking, hiking, and painting. 

Fall Gathering

Fall Festivities 

The Orthopaedic Surgery Research Service (OSRS) team enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon of pumpkin painting, showcasing their creativity and bonding over the festive craft. In addition to the artistic fun, they shared delicious donuts and cider, while connecting with one another in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere. This celebration not only brought warmth and laughter to the team but also fostered a sense of camaraderie and fellowship, making the event a memorable kickoff to the fall season. 

Research Resource Spotlight

3D Printing of Anatomical Mimetics 

The Department of Radiology partners with the Duderstadt Center to create anatomical mimetics for use in surgical training, research, and radiology practice. These mimetics are made from clinical imaging CT/MR data and can contain multiple “tissue types” in the same print, including approximations of muscle, bone, cartilage, tendon, and ligament (shown: J850 Polyjet 3D Printer). Reach out to cslocke@umich.edu for more information.

Innovation and Artistry 

Engineer Turns Setback into Opportunity with Handmade Briefcase

When Research Project Engineer, Conor Locke, found his guaranteed briefcase falling apart after just four years, he decided to take matters into his own hands. Determined to craft something better, Locke invested his refund money in high-quality materials, tools, and a reference pattern.

 

Two weeks and many long evenings later, Locke completed his custom project. Each layer of leather was hand-cut, single-punched, and meticulously hand-stitched. The resulting briefcase is not just a replica but a substantial upgrade of the original design, featuring modern aesthetic updates, a secure dual-clasp closure system, and a versatile strap that can be used as a side strap, backpack strap, or luggage strap.

 

What began as a frustration became a testament to DIY ingenuity, demonstrating that sometimes the best solutions come from personal initiative and hard work. Conor's experience underscores the potential for everyday challenges to inspire remarkable creativity and craftsmanship.

Recent Publications

Upcoming Funding Opportunities and Deadlines


New Ways November

This month’s theme for Actions for Happiness is "New Ways November." It’s a perfect time to explore something different—perhaps try out a new hobby or listen to a radio station you've never tuned into before. Taking on a new activity or approach can inspire fresh ideas or even uncover skills you didn’t realize you had. I challenge you to take on at least two of these new ideas this month and see where they lead!


One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." -Henry Miller

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