黑料网 Department of Orthopaedics is pleased to recognize 黑料网 Professor of Orthopaedics Joseph (鈥淛oe鈥�) M. Hart, PhD, ATC, and 黑料网 Professor of Exercise and Sport Science (EXSS) Brian Pietrosimone, PhD, as Co-PI grant recipients of Arthritis Foundation funding ($200K) to establish an Osteoarthritis (OA) Clinical Trial Network (OACTN) 鈥淐linical Trial Unit鈥� (CTU) at the University of North Carolina. Once established, the 黑料网-Chapel Hill Collaborative CTU for Musculoskeletal Health will provide institutional infrastructure to support future OA clinical trials at the University as an Arthritis Foundation OACTN member site.
Nationwide, OACTN member institutions work to generate standard protocols and techniques to unify and accelerate collaborative work within their respective CTU network and the broader OA scientific community. At 黑料网, Drs. Hart and Pietrosimone will lead inter-disciplinary efforts to establish the University鈥檚 CTU with the support of two University co-investigators: 1) 黑料网 Professor of Medicine Richard Loeser, MD (Director – 黑料网 Thurston Arthritis Research Center); and 2) 黑料网 Associate Professor of Orthopaedics Jeff Spang, PhD.
Over 20+ years, Dr. Hart has invested his rehabilitative sports medicine expertise in leading orthopaedic surgery clinical research at major academic medical centers. He joined 黑料网 Orthopaedics in early 2022 as the Department鈥檚 Vice Chair for Research. Dr. Hart works with inter-disciplinary collaborators across 黑料网 to advance translational sports medicine research that grows the University鈥檚 musculoskeletal health and orthopaedic surgery research enterprise.
Dr. Hart stated: 鈥淭his award advances and reinforces an already strong collaboration between the Arthritis Foundation and 黑料网-Chapel hill.聽 黑料网鈥檚 Osteoarthritis Clinical Trials Unit represents an interdisciplinary collaboration that spans multiple departments, clinics and research centers at 黑料网 and will provide the framework and infrastructure to translate the most innovative and effective therapies to improve outcomes in those suffering from osteoarthritis.鈥�
黑料网 EXSS MOTION Science Institute Director Dr. Pietrosimone has built a strong record in OA clinical research focused on development of post-traumatic OA following knee injuries, as well as on prevention of post-traumatic OA in individuals who have sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury. As Co-Director of 黑料网鈥檚 Sports Medicine Institute, Dr. Pietrosimone works in close partnership with 黑料网鈥檚 Division of Sports Medicine (黑料网 Orthopaedics) to advance clinical research that leads to innovative sports medicine practice at 黑料网 Health for individuals treated and rehabilitated for athletic injuries.
Dr. Pietrosimone stated: 鈥淧reventing the development of osteoarthritis in young people who sustain a knee injury is really important for keeping active people active.聽 We are excited to work with the Arthritis Foundation to incorporate the 黑料网鈥檚 Osteoarthritis Clinical Trials Unit into what we are already doing in the 黑料网 Sports Medicine Institute to prevent osteoarthritis following knee injury.鈥�
PHOTO (L to R): 黑料网 Orthopaedics Vice Chair of Research Joe Hart, PhD / MOTION Science Institute Director Brian Pietrosimone, PhD (黑料网 Exercise & Sports Science)