BMRC Hosts Inaugural Research Symposium: A Day of Discovery, Collaboration, and Celebration
November 7, 2025
On Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, the Orland Bethel Family Musculoskeletal Research Center (BMRC) hosted its first annual BMRC Research Symposium, bringing together nearly 160 faculty, trainees, staff, and students. The full-day event highlighted the depth and diversity of musculoskeletal research across the clinical and basic sciences, while also celebrating collaboration, mentorship, and future directions in the field.
The day began with opening remarks from Joon Y. Lee MD, founding director of the BMRC, and MaCalus V. Hogan, MD, MBA, David Silver Professor and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, followed by presentations from BMRC Core Labs. Morning sessions focused on clinical research, featuring talks on carpal tunnel outcomes, sarcoma registries, shoulder biomechanics, and diabetic fracture healing models. Basic science presentations later in the day included innovative work on in vivo models of spine instability, joint-on-a-chip systems for studying osteoarthritis, and advanced imaging approaches to understand degeneration and repair.
"This inaugural BMRC Symposium marks an important milestone for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the University of Pittsburgh. It reflects not only the strength and diversity of our research team, but also our collective commitment to advancing discovery, collaboration, and mentorship. I believe this event demonstrates the tremendous potential we have to shape the future of orthopaedics and improve the lives of our patients,” says Dr. Hogan.
A mid-morning special session, cohosted by the Pittsburgh Center for Interdisciplinary Bone and Mineral Research (PCIBMR), featured Giuseppe Intini, DDS, MS, PhD, discussing skeletal adaptation during spaceflight and its implications for bone disease and regeneration.
The keynote address was delivered by Marc Schulz, PhD, professor of psychology at Bryn Mawr College, coauthor of The Good Life, and associate director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development. Dr. Schulz’s lecture traced findings from the longest-running longitudinal study of adult well-being and emphasized the powerful role of close relationships in fostering long-term health, resilience, and purpose.
The afternoon included a poster session showcasing 40 abstracts across clinical, translational, and preclinical areas. Topics included AI-based imaging diagnostics and biofilm therapeutics to tendon repair models, spinal inflammation, cartilage degeneration, and musculoskeletal aging. Five poster presenters were recognized with awards:
- Predoctoral Award, Preclinical Research: Sophie Hines and Meagan Makarczyk
- Postdoctoral Award, Preclinical Research: Samantha Costa
- Predoctoral Award, Clinical Research: Lidya Canturk
- Postdoctoral Award, Clinical Research: Lawrence Garvin II
Later sessions spotlighted research from the 2024–2025 BMRC/ORS fellows, who presented work on topics, including neuromuscular contracture, spinal immune dynamics, craniofacial development, osteoarthritis inflammation, and high-resolution imaging of disc microstructure.
The event concluded with closing remarks, an awards ceremony, and a well-attended reception. Planning is already underway for the 2026 BMRC Research Symposium.
“It is deeply gratifying to see our vision come to life in this first annual symposium. Bringing together so many talented clinicians, scientists, and trainees in one space underscores the collaborative spirit that defines the BMRC. I am excited to see how this event grows through the years,” says Dr. Lee.
