Orthopedic Research

Driving Breakthroughs in Orthopedics

The Center for Advanced Orthopaedic Studies (CAOS) and the Musculoskeletal Translational Innovation Initiative (MTII) at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center consist of six full-time principal investigators and additional clinician-scientists who collaborate with laboratory-based investigators. Collectively, the two research arms of the department accommodate approximately 50 researchers, including post-doctoral and research fellows, undergraduate and graduate students. 

Our Expertise

These techniques are applied to several research areas, including:

We intend to build upon these strengths and develop a fully integrated, multi-disciplinary center with research spanning from basic, bench-top studies to clinical trials.

Our Research Facilities

Orthopedic Labs

• Alkalay Lab: Led by Ron Alkalay, this lab works to improve musculoskeletal health by studying how aging, disease, and injury affect spinal tissue biomechanics using advanced imaging and computational tools.
• Anderson Lab: Led by Dennis Anderson, this lab we studies how aging, disease, injury and disability can contribute to altered biomechanics, with a focus on spine biomechanics.
• Bouxsein Lab: Led by Mary Bouxsein, the lab aims to reduce osteoporosis-related fractures by advancing bone fragility research, improving strength assessment, and enhancing prevention and treatment.
• Nazarian Lab: Led by Ara Nazarian, this lab fosters and promotes innovative solutions for the care of musculoskeletal diseases.

Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory History

The Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory was established in 1979 by Augustus A. White III, MD, then Chief of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and by Wilson C. Hayes, PhD, Laboratory Director. From 1979 to 1983, the Laboratory occupied 800 square feet of a converted research surgical suite on the third floor of the Slosberg-Landay Building. In 1983, the Laboratory moved to 3,800 square feet of new research space on the seventh floor of the Dana Research Building.

A major expansion became possible when, in 1988, funds donated by Maurice E. Müller were used to establish the Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory under the directorship of the first Müller Professor, Wilson Hayes, PhD. This became one of the leading laboratories in the field and the first Biomechanics endowed chair in the country. In April of 1994, the Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory moved to Research North, a new $18 million research facility providing 110,000 square foot of research space on three floors of state-of-the-art laboratories and conference rooms, located at 99 Brookline Avenue.

Dr. Hayes left BIDMC in 1998 and the Müller Chair fell vacant until 2008, when biologist Christopher Evans, PhD, was recruited to this position. To reflect the greater research scope now represented in the laboratory, it was ambitiously renamed the Center for Advanced Orthopaedic Studies (CAOS). Our goal is to build upon previous successes and to develop programs commensurate with this designation.