SAN DIEGO, CA – In order to recognize and encourage cutting-edge research in key areas of orthopaedic sports medicine, the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) will present nine research awards and two grants during its Annual Meeting, July 7-10 in San Diego, California. As a leader in orthopaedic sports medicine, AOSSM annually provides more than $300,000 to research initiatives and projects around the country. Highlights of this year's award recipients include:
2011 AOSSM/ConMed Linvatec Young Investigator Grants
The Young Investigator Grants (YIG) are specifically designed to support young researchers who have not received prior funding. This year AOSSM selected two winners: Austin V. Stone, MD, Wake Forest University, "Molecular Mechanisms in Meniscus Injury that Contribute to Subsequent Osteoarthritis" which will study how to better define the molecular pathways activated by meniscal injury that result in meniscal degeneration and contribute to the development of post-traumatic OA. The second winner is Elizabeth M. Dulaney-Cripe, MD from Wright State University. She will be studying how adipose tissue-derived stem cells may improve tendon-to-bone repair
2011 AOSSM/BioMimetic Sandy Kirkley Clinical Research Outcome Grant
To honor the memory and spirit of Dr. Kirkley, AOSSM established a grant of $20,000 that provides start-up, "seed," or supplemental funding for an outcome research project or pilot study. This year's recipient is J. Robert Giffin, MD of Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic/University of Western Ontario. His winning project, "Does Usual Rehab Result in Better Outcomes than Staged Rehab Post ACL Surgery?" will analyze an alternative approach to rehabilitation with patients receiving minimal supervision for the first 12 weeks post-ACL reconstruction, such that they have the means to participate in supervised physiotherapy later on when strengthening, coordination and sport-specific exercises are the focus of rehabilitation.
AOSSM/Genzyme Osteoarthritis Grant
Lee D. Kaplan, MD, of the University of Miami won the inaugural AOSSM/Genzyme Osteoarthritis (OA) Basic Science Research Grant for his project: "Articular Cartilage Epigenetics Following Impact Injury." The AOSSM/Genzyme Osteoarthritis Grants funds investigations related to early osteoarthritis and/or prevention of OA progression. This one-year award of $50,000 supports a lab/basic science project and is chosen by the AOSSM Research Committee.
Aircast Award for Basic Science
Voted by the AOSSM Fellowship Committee, this year's winning paper is: "Effect of Acetabulum Rim Recession on Anterior Rim Angle: A Cadaveric Study," by Michael Salata MD, Katherine Manno BS, Chris Gross MD, James S. Williams PhD, Walter Virkus MD, Charles A. Bush-Joseph MD, Shane Jay Nho MD, of Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL and Vamshi Yelavarthi, Boston Medical College, Joseph U. Barker MD, Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic, Raleigh, NC.
Aircast Award for Clinical Science
Voted on by the AOSSM's Fellowship Committee, awardees receive $1,500. The paper entitled: "Graft Size and Patient Age are Predictors of Early Revision Following ACL Reconstruction with Hamstring Autograft" included authors from Duke Sports Medicine: Robert A. Magnussen MD, Ryenn L. West BS, Alison P. Toth MD, Durham, NC; Dean C. Taylor MD, William E. Garrett Jr. MD, PhD and John Todd R. Lawrence MD, PhD from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.
Cabaud Memorial Award
Given to the best basic science submission, this award is selected by the AOSSM Awards Subcommittee with awardees receiving $2,000. This year's winning paper is: "The Effect of Axial Tibial Rotation and Varus Loading on ACL Strain During a Simulated Jump Landing," by authors Youkeun K. Oh, PhD (University of Michigan), David B. Lipps, MS, James A. Ashton-Miller, PhD and Edward J. Wojtys, MD.
Excellence in Research Award
This award is selected by the AOSSM Awards Subcommittee with principal investigators receiving $2,000. This year's winning paper was from the University of Michigan and titled, "Surgical Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement Improves Hip Kinematics: A Computer- Assisted Model." Authors included: Asheesh Bedi, MD, Mark Dolan, MD, Iftach Hetsroni, MD, Erin Magennis, MSc, Joseph Lipman, MSE, Robert Buly, MD, Bryan T. Kelly, MD.
O'Donoghue Sports Injury Research Award.
This award is given annually to the best overall paper that deals with clinical based research or human in-vivo research. In 2011 it is given to authors: Kanu Goyal, MD (University Pittsburgh Medical Center), Scott Tashman, PhD, Joon Wang, MD, Kang Li, PhD, Albert Lin, MD, Xudong Zhang, PhD, Christopher D. Harner, MD for their paper, "In Vivo Analysis of the Isolated Posterior Cruciate Ligament-Deficient Knee During Functional Activities". The awardee is selected by the AOSSM Awards Subcommittee with recipients receiving $2,000.
The NCAA Research Award
This award is given to the best paper submitted that pertains to the health, safety, and well-being of collegiate student-athletes. The award is selected by the AOSSM Awards Subcommittee with awardees receiving $2,000. This year's winning paper is from Washington University doctors: Robert H. Brophy, MD, Jeffrey J. Nepple, MD, Matthew J. Matava, MD and Rick W. Wright, MD. The paper is titled: "Previous Knee Surgery a Risk Factor for Knee Articular Cartilage Lesions Among College Football Athletes in the NFL Combine."
Hughston Award
This year's recipients of the Hughston Award are Katrina Nilsson-Helander MD, Karin G. Silbernagel, PhD, PT, ATC, Roland Thomee, Eva Faxen, Nicklas Olsson, Bengt I. Eriksson and Jon Karlsson, MD, PhD for their paper, "Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Randomized, Controlled Study Comparing Surgical and Nonsurgical Treatments Using Validated Outcome Measures." The award is given to the most outstanding paper published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine and is chosen by a panel of AJSM editors and reviewers and receives $5,000.
AJSM Systematic Review Award
The winning paper is chosen by a panel of AJSM editors and reviewers and receives $5,000. Carmen E Quatman, Carolyn M Hettrich, MD, Laura C Schmitt, MD and Kurt P Spindler, MD received the award for their work entitled, "The Clinical Utility and Diagnostic Performance of MRI for Identification of Early and Advanced Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review."
T. David Sisk Award for Research Excellence in Basic Science
The winners were selected from the best papers in basic science submitted to Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach. The award will include a $2,500 cash prize and a plaque. This year's winner in basic science is "The Basic Science of Articular Cartilage: Structure, Composition, and Function," authors Alice J. Sophia Fox, MD, Asheesh Bedi, MD and Scott A. Rodeo, MD.
T. David Sisk Award for Research Excellence in Clinical Science
The winners were selected from the best papers in clinical science submitted to Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach. The award will include a $2,500 cash prize and a plaque. This year's recipient is Jeffrey S. Kutcher, MD for his paper, "Management of the Complicated Sports Concussion Patient."
For more information on AOSSM research projects and awards please visit www.sportsmed.org and click on the "Research" tab.
The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) is a world leader in sports medicine education, research, communication and fellowship, and includes national and international orthopaedic sports medicine leaders. The Society works closely with many other sports medicine specialists, including athletic trainers, physical therapists, family physicians, and others to improve the identification, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries. Additional information and press releases can be viewed in the newsroom on AOSSM's Web site at www.sportsmed.org