Laboratory for Musculoskeletal Research and Innovation (LMRI)

Adam Hacking, Ph.D, who has broad research interests related to improving orthopaedic treatment and patient care, joined our Department as the Director of the newly-created Laboratory for Musculoskeletal Research and Innovation (LMRI). The focus of the Laboratory is to provide innovative solutions for unmet clinical needs in orthopaedics. Dr. Hacking received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from McGill University in 2006. He was the recipient of the Hip Society’s prestigious Otto Aufranc Award in 2002 for his PhD work implicating the role of the surface morphology of plasma sprayed HA coatings in osseointegration. While working on his PhD, he co-authored a number of pre-clinical studies validating and optimizing the properties of Trabecular Metal for hard and soft tissue fixation. Dr. Hacking completed two postdoctoral fellowships, the first in the Department of Orthopaedics at McGill University and the second at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. He has authored four book chapters and 28 journal publications, generated four patents, presented at more than 50 conferences, and has delivered numerous invited lectures.

This year we welcomed two new postdoctoral fellows, Dr. Tian Xia (MD, PhD) and Dr. Joel Goldberg (PhD); and three summer medical students, Nadia Villarroel, Jason Sherer and Sean Kelley. New research assistants include Brandon Berger, Shay Warren, Sujata Syamal and Cameron Bubar. Thanks to all for their help and dedication to the lab. Ongoing Laboratory projects encompass trauma, arthroplasty, tissue engineering and biomaterials. Specifically, these include bone and vascular tissue engineering, enhancement of fracture healing and implant fixation, development of novel surfaces to reduce implant infection, the use of non-invasive techniques to quantify implant stability, techniques to improve the evaluation of biomaterials, and the improvement of trauma care.

Dr. Hacking is also working closely with the surgical staff to develop and refine new technology. The Laboratory is equipped with large and small animal models, techniques for undecalcified histology, and testing instrumentation, and has access to micro-CT imaging, scanning electron microscopy and mechanical testing. Collaborations exist locally with Harvard and MIT and internationally with the University of Helsinki and McGill University. These collaborations broaden and complement the capabilities of the Laboratory. To visit the lab, please stop by GRJ 1120 or email ahacking@partners.org.