ORS forum to focus on the past and future of orthopaedic clinical research

Orthopaedic clinicians and researchers will conduct a one-day Clinical Research Forum: “Learning from the past, looking to the future,” at the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) annual meeting on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, in Long Beach, Calif.

Organized by Theodore Miclau, MD, ORS program chair, the forum will offer new and experienced researchers an opportunity to learn about important issues in orthopaedic clinical research.

“I am confident that this forum will have something for everyone,” said Dr. Miclau. “Veteran researchers will benefit from interaction with each other, while early career researchers will be able to learn from the experts.”

Dr. Miclau’s organized a steering committee includes Mohit Bhandari, MD; Kristy L. Weber, MD; and George F. Muschler, MD.

Fostering collaborative efforts
“I am thrilled that the ORS has embraced this opportunity to sponsor the first orthopaedic Clinical Research Forum,” Dr. Weber said. “This meeting has been designed for a broad audience. Researchers interested in developing clinical trials can network and learn about methodological issues, past successful orthopaedic clinical trials, and potential pitfalls.

“Those who oversee or participate in clinical trials can use this meeting as an opportunity to teach, mentor, and develop new ideas. Given the national focus on comparative effectiveness research and the substantial knowledge gaps in evidence-based clinical orthopaedics, this is a timely program,” she explained.

“The forum will provide surgeons and researchers with critical insights into the design and execution of orthopaedic research, with a focus on clinical trials,” added Dr. Bhandari. “It will also help participants understand the design and implementation successes and challenges in previous high profile orthopaedic surgical trials such as the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial and the Study to Prospectively Evaluate Reamed Intramedullary Nails in Tibial Fractures. Finally, we will look at future innovations in the design of orthopaedic trials.” “Major breakthroughs will only come when basic scientists and clinical researchers maintain fruitful collaborations to ensure promising innovations are carefully transitioned to clinical successes.”

Dr. Miclau hopes it will be offered again in 2012 when the AAOS and the ORS are meeting in San Francisco.

For more information on the ORS annual meeting and Clinical Research Forum, visit www.ors.org

Annie Hayashi is a contributing writer for the Orthopaedic Research Society. She can be reached at achayashi@gmail.com