Research

Directed by Dr. Jonathan Boyd, Professor and John A. Cardea Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery, we are an immersive team that works with surgeons, scientists, and engineers toward unraveling the robustness of human responses. Our research problems come from the clinic, and we work with academic, government and industry partners to develop scientific solutions for translation directly into practice.

Our investigators are particularly interested in the intersections between infection, inflammation, and injury. These three factors are often interrelated, and can have a profound impact on surgical success and the subsequent healing process. By studying how these factors interact, we hope to develop new treatments and strategies that can improve outcomes for patients with orthopaedic injuries and conditions.

Our research initiatives cover a broad range of topics, from the development of new treatments that can prevent infection to the exploration of the regeneration of severed nerves to ensure full biological recovery. We are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the field of orthopaedic research and are dedicated to translating our findings into tangible benefits for patients.

In addition to our research, we are also committed to education and outreach. We believe that sharing knowledge and expertise is essential to advancing the field of orthopaedics as a whole. Through our educational initiatives and collaborations with other institutions, we hope to inspire and train the next generation of orthopedic researchers and clinicians.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our lab, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to working with you! 

Current Research  

Faculty members, residents, and students in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery conduct basic science and translational research across three main areas: infection, inflammation, and injury.  For more information about current or future research in MI3L, please contact Dr. Boyd.

Infection  

Under the leadership of Professor and Department Chair Dr. Stephen Kates, researchers within the orthopaedic infection research program study factors influencing human immune response to infections of bones and joints, and the complex interactions of the immune system with the organism. The studies also examine patient factors that influence clinical outcomes.  

With innovative new technologies, we’re able to study bone infection and work on new methods to prevent infection from occurring after surgical treatment.  

This research is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the AOTrauma Clinical Priority Program aimed at understanding and providing solutions for bone infection. Dr. Kates and biomedical engineer John Owen are the primary operators of this lab.  

For more information about musculoskeletal infection research, please contact Dr. Kates.  

Inflammation

Dr. Boyd, Professor and John A. Cardea Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery, serves as the Director of the MI3L.  His own research explores early cellular changes in response to insults to predict and improve functional health outcomes, which requires an understanding of both the localized biological environment and direct linkage to clinical observations.  This unique research focus enabled Dr. Boyd to work translationally across multiple hierarchal levels of samples that include mammalian cell culture, animal models (rodents) and human subjects, coupled with a multitude of analytical techniques that range from single point detectors to state-of-the-art imaging.  As a basic scientist, the application of his research is broad and spans wound healing to medical diagnostics and inflammation-related disease. 

Some current projects in his laboratory include:

1. Exploring the relationship between infection and inflammation. This research involves using novel fluorescent tissue dyes in conjunction with bioluminescent bacteria in an osteomyelitis mouse model to image bone and tissue responses during before, during and after infection, including bone/tissue degeneration and regeneration.
2. Spatiotemporal inflammation from chemical exposures. This research is multi-faceted and uses an SKH1 mouse model to a) develop new imaging probes for various tissues and organs, b) identify the time course and organs of interest associated with inflammation post-exposure to a variety of chemicals, c) explore genomics, proteomics and metabolomics of tissue/organ responses.

Dr. Boyd’s research is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, and the American Heart Association.

For more information about inflammation initiatives and research, please contact Dr. Boyd.

Injury: Nerve Repair  

Professor and Division of Hand Surgery Chair Dr. Jonathan Isaacs leads the Orthopaedic Microsurgery Lab. Supported by the U.S. Department of Defense and private industry grants, the lab is currently engaged in several investigative research efforts.  

One of the most exciting projects is the ongoing development and optimization of Nerve Tape™, in partnership with BioCircuit Technologies (Atlanta, GA). Nerve Tape is a microhook and biomaterials-based device that quickly aligns, entubulates and secures severed nerve ends accurately and without the need for microsutures or specialized microsurgical training.

The lab is also exploring cellular, anabolic and electric stimulation-based modalities to blunt or reverse the degenerative changes in denervated muscles after a severe injury.  

For more information about the Orthopaedic Microsurgery Lab, please contact Dr. Isaacs.

Our laboratories are located at 1217 E. Marshall St. in the Hermes A. Kontos Medical Sciences Building (KMSB; indicated with a star), 2nd floor, across the street from VCU Medical Center.

For all inquiries, please contact:

Jonathan Boyd

jonathan.boyd@vcuhealth.org