Orthopaedic research is a vital part of the mission of the North Shore-LIJ orthopaedic program. Dr. Daniel Grande, the 2004 recipient of the Charles S. Neer Award from the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, leads the Orthopaedic Research Laboratory at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.

The primary goals of the Orthopaedic Research Laboratory are the repair and regeneration of the soft tissues that serve as the shock absorbers and stabilizers of the knee joint using novel cell-based therapies.

A technique developed in the lab has led to one of the first clinical treatments for osteoarthritis. Through an improvement in cartilage repair, patients see a lessening of chronic pain and an improvement in their quality of life.

Cartilage tears in the knee are a frequent knee injury. If severe, they are often fixed surgically in what is a mechanical repair but not a true biological repair. The Orthopaedic Research Laboratory has developed gene therapy to restore the normal biomechanics of the knee and prevent osteoarthritis in patients suffering from these tears.

The Orthopaedic Research Laboratory is also involved in the research of shoulder injuries, specifically those to the rotor cuff. We are exploring ways to enhance its repair, including alterations in the mechanical environment, gene therapy and sutures laced with tissue-repairing substances. These results have shown promise in early preclinical studies.

Through this research our orthopaedic physicians work to advance the knowledge of orthopaedic science.

For a referral to one of our orthopaedic professionals , please call (866) 914-9393.