Mission Statement

“To enhance science by fostering multidisciplinary research and training related to musculoskeletal disorders, ensuring greater research effectiveness and improving patient care”

Introduction

The Center for Orthopaedic Research at UAMS is an initiative within the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. The Center director, Dr. Larry Suva is recognized internationally and has a broad scientific background gathered from years in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry (Genentech Inc., Merck, GlaxoSmithKline) as well as 5 years on the faculty of Harvard Medical School.

Researchers within the Center for Orthopaedic Research are focused on developing new approaches for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, arthritis and related disorders. In conjunction with the Arkansas Cancer Research Center, the Center for Orthopaedic Research has a strong commitment to understanding the mechanism of breast cancer metastasis to bone and are actively pursuing the discovery of disease biomarkers using mass spectrometry. We have conducted numerous single-center studies examining the function of orthopaedic implants, the effect of antibiotics in minimizing infection following surgery, and evaluated the effects of pharmacological agents on bone and fracture repair.

Our musculoskeletal phenotyping capabilities include micro computed tomography (microCT), quantitative computed tomography for small animals (pQCT), dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), skeletal histomorphometry, histology, mechanical testing, finite element analysis and image analysis. Laboratories include cell and molecular biology, materials testing, prototype development, proteomics and tissue culture. The technological sophistication of the bone imaging techniques employed by the Center for Orthopaedic Research, coupled with our scientific expertise and extensive experience in managing clinical trials, make us unique in Arkansas.

COR Christmas Party 2003