Orthopaedic Trauma Research Fellowship

The Extremity Trauma & Amputation Center of Excellence (EACE) is a unique organization within the DoD consisting of teams of researchers embedded at the point of care within multiple Military Treatment Facilities across the nation. In line with the congressionally directed mission of the EACE, the research efforts undertaken focus on the mitigation, treatment and rehabilitation of traumatic extremity injuries and amputations with a specific focus on translating their findings into clinical practice to improve the care of injured Service Members and Veterans. 

The EACE Regenerative Biosciences Laboratory primarily focuses on the development and evaluation of next generation technologies and approaches for the treatment of combat related orthopaedic trauma. In particular, contemporary cell / molecular biology in vitro approaches as well as clinically relevant small and large animal models of orthopaedic trauma are utilized to generate the knowledge required to translate promising technologies into clinical practice.

Specifically, ongoing efforts within the EACE Regenerative Biosciences Laboratory include several projects focused on volumetric muscle loss (VML) and post traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). 

VML, defined as the irrecoverable frank loss of skeletal muscle tissue with associated persistent functional deficits, presents pervasively, with representation in ~50% of total war injuries, and is a leading factor in the decision to amputate with 80% of the surgical amputations performed on military casualties directly related to this missing skeletal muscle tissue. Historically, chronic functional deficits after severe muscle trauma were considered a part of the natural sequelae of injury. Thus, VML often went without a definitive surgical treatment due to a lack of effective therapeutic options, which facilitates a fibrotic repair paradigm leading to persistent muscle weakness and long-term disability. For example, a recent retrospective analysis of a cohort of medically discharged SMs showed that VML had the greatest deleterious impact, as determined by frequency and degree of disability 

In the event of a traumatic orthopaedic injury affecting a synovial joint, damage to the articular surface often occurs either through direct insult or indirectly as a result of subsequent incongruities and altered loading. These sites subsequently result in a high reoccurrence of injury and progressive degeneration through a process coined Post Traumatic Osteoarthritis (PTOA). PTOA is pervasive and represents a significant socioeconomic burden as it is estimated to result in expenditures on the order of 15 billion dollars per year within the United States civilian sector, and represents the most prominent deleterious secondary health condition leading to medical discharge following combat related trauma in our military. As such, new interventional strategies which minimize or prevent progressive degeneration of the joint are of great interest to facilitate greater joint function and quality of life for the patient.  

Key education and training aspects of this Orthopeadic Trauma Research Fellowship position will be to: 

This appointment is a three month research appointment, with the possibility to be renewed for additional research periods. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant. 

Participants will receive a stipend to be determined by EACE. Stipends are typically based on the participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location. Other benefits may include the following:

The participant will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOD, or any other office or agency. Instead, the participant will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.