Steadman Philippon Research Institute

SPRI’s perspective is based on clinical relevance, with the goal of improving the care of the patient. Recognizing that the body's innate healing powers can be harnessed and enhanced to improve the healing process has led to exciting advancements in surgical techniques including the use of orthobiologics like platelet-rich plasma (PRP), bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) and therapeutics. Recognized globally for its pioneering musculoskeletal research, SPRI is committed to not only discovering healing solutions to orthopaedic conditions like osteoarthritis but is also focused on refining treatments, injury prevention, research and rehabilitation.

SPRI’s strengths come from its collaborative approach to research. The institute is comprised of several distinct teams including the Center for Regenerative Sports Medicine, the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the Center for Outcomes-based Orthopaedic Research and Imaging Research. These departments work independently as well as collaboratively to investigate problems and discover solutions. Where some organizations may only look at a biomechanical approach, SPRI complements its investigations by working across multiple disciplines to validate its research. This can include a biomotion study that is supported by basic cellular analysis in the regenerative medicine lab, or surgical techniques that are validated with robotic testing. The synergy between SPRI and The Steadman Clinic allows for a seamless translation of science into medicine.

SPRI employs a robust team of world-class researchers, including National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Department of Defense (DoD)-funded PhD-level scientists. These leaders are supported by teams of elite researchers, who have joined SPRI from top universities nationally and abroad. In 2017, all of SPRI’s laboratory spaces were either fully renovated or brand-new construction, including a state-of-the-art regenerative medicine laboratory, surgical skills lab, biomechanical robotics lab and biomotion lab. The biomotion lab has also recently been upgraded to include new flat panel detectors; it is now the only lab in the entire country with this type of advanced technology. SPRI has a rich history of philanthropic funding and has also received major NIH and DOD awards in recent years to fund its vital research.

Since its founding, SPRI has been on the forefront of outcomes research for orthopaedic surgeries and treatments, and has been featured in several validating outcomes studies, including a 20-year outcomes study for ACL repair from the institute’s founder and co-chair, Dr. J. Richard Steadman, and a 10-year outcomes study for hip arthroscopy repair from the institute’s co-chair, Dr. Marc J. Philippon. SPRI continues to conduct its outcomes studies, and it has expanded beyond this initial work into advanced biomechanics and biomotion studies and regenerative medicine research. In 2019, SPRI was awarded a multi-million-dollar grant from the Department of Defense to conduct orthobiologics clinical trials and return-to-duty protocols using Biomotion technology—both in lab and on the field. In addition to these four DoD projects, the Institute has also been awarded 4 grants from the National Institutes of Health since 2019, as well as 2 sub-awards. SPRI is one of the most published organizations in the fields of orthopaedics, sports medicine, and musculoskeletal conditions. SPRI has plans to add more clinical trials and translational research projects to help make treatment discoveries that will impact people all over the world.