Research Institute
HSS Research Institute
Since its founding more than 150 years ago, Hospital for Special Surgery has been a leader in research aimed at improving the lives of patients suffering from debilitating orthopedic and rheumatic conditions such as arthritis, bone and soft tissue injuries, autoimmune diseases, and musculoskeletal pain and deformities.
Today, the HSS Research Institute, with over 225 dedicated personnel, is identifying mechanisms underlying these conditions, and developing effective approaches for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. With a focus on tissue repair, improving surgical outcomes, autoimmunity and inflammation, genomics, new treatments, and precision medicine, the impact of our discoveries – many of which are only happening at HSS – determine future directions of musculoskeletal research to best improve clinical outcomes.
$64M
Active Federal Grants Funding
1200
Publications in 2023
$35M
Active Foundation & Industry Funding
We are embarking on a new era of research at HSS by expanding the scope of basic and clinical science and building multidisciplinary translational research teams.
Research Areas
Skeletal Health and Orthopedic Research
Inflammation and Autoimmunity
Soft Tissue
Biomechanics
Genomics
MRI Research
Precision Medicine
Making health care personal
In response to the great promise that precision medicine holds, HSS has created a Precision Medicine Laboratory that will enable the study of disease mechanisms, surgical outcomes, and responses to therapy in specific patient populations. The Laboratory catalyzes the formation of multidisciplinary teams of scientists, physicians, and orthopaedic surgeons, linking clinical research with exciting basic science research. HSS will use the precision medicine approach to pinpoint the most personalized treatment plan for the patient – ultimately allowing physicians to select the right treatment the first time and improving outcomes.
Precision Medicine Laboratory
Laura Donlin, PhD
and
Miguel Otero, PhD
, Directors
Through the HSS Precision Medicine Laboratory, multidisciplinary clinician-scientist teams comprehensively study orthopedic and autoimmune disorders. Through integrative and cutting-edge approaches, we aim to discover the best treatment for each patient.
Program Overview
Basic and Translational Research
Programs
Faculty
Postdoctoral Program
Postbaccalaureate Program
Clinical Research
Clinical Research Administration
Registries
Participate in a Clinical Trial
Contact Us:
212.774.7123
Movement is the Essence of Life
HSS Research In the News
Nonopioid pain reliever for orthopedic surgery performs well in HSS study
HSS Studies Contribute Early Evidence to Help Guide Emerging Perioperative Considerations for Patients Using GLP 1 Medications
HSS Presents New Research Leveraging AI to Uncover Insights Related to Pain Risk and Anesthesia Education at ASRA Annual Meeting
HSS Presents New Research at the ARSA Conference 2026
HSS Study Evaluates Non-Opioid Pain Relief Following Orthopedic Surgery
Custom osseointegration implants may have similar outcomes to off-the-shelf implants
Osseointegration during amputation had similar outcomes as in existing amputations
10 spine studies to know in Q1
Infection prevention in TKA may require ‘robust’ program, not adjusting surgeon volume
HSS Presents New Research at the AAOS Conference 2026
HSS Reports Results of Key Studies on Targeted Medication Use in Joint Replacement Surgery
Patients with iodine-related allergies may still receive iodine-based products during TJA
Paging the Bone Whisperers: HSS’s Metabolic Fellowship Gets $495K
COX-2 inhibitors, anticoagulants may not increase wound-related bleeding after THA.
GLP-1s may have profound impact on total joint replacement
‘Quiet knee’ rehabilitation protocol may reduce opioid exposure after TKA
HSS Researchers Report Benefits of Robotic-Assisted Spine Surgery for Adolescent Athletes with Back Pain Due to Pars Fractures
Incorporating Social Determinants of Health Into Clinical Practice Is Central to Improving Care and Outcomes
Custom-tailored AI platform may be feasible for addressing patient questions before TJA
HSS Patient Outcomes Research Highlights Ongoing Commitment to Accurate Reporting and Patient Safety
HSS Research Shows “Quiet Knee” Protocol Could Redefine Knee Replacement Recovery
HSS Presents New Research at The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Annual Meeting
Hospital for Special Surgery Study Shows AI Tool Effectively Prepares Patients for Joint Replacement Surgery
When Age and Heart Failure Crash the DDD Party
Social Isolation a Common Theme Among Older People With SLE
Machine learning may assist in identifying pain trajectories after TKA
HSS Achieves 100% Success Rate for Sedation-Free Pediatric MRIs
Knee implants may have high long-term survivability in young patients
Two HSS Studies Exploring Pain Control Win President’s Choice Awards at Annual ASRA Meeting
HSS Studies Identify Potential Profile and Treatment Options for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
HSS Names Kevin M. Koch, PhD, Founding Director of the Applied Sciences Institute and Vice Chair of Research in Radiology
New Study Reveals Young, Active Patients Who Have Total Knee Replacements are Unlikely to Need Revision Surgery in their Lifetime
Tibial tubercle transfer associated with low complication risk with, without distalization
Trials Aim to Show Benefit of Orthobiologic for Knee OA
GLP-1 receptor agonists may improve outcomes for patients with morbid obesity after TKA
HSS Participates in Promising Phase 3 Lupus Trial of Investigational Therapy DZP
Proximal femoral replacement may effectively salvage complex revision THA cases
Study Shows Knee Osteoarthritis Causes More Pain and Inflammation in Women
HSS Presents Cutting-Edge Discoveries in Rheumatic Disease and Reproductive Health at ACR Convergence 2024
Study Shows Avacopan Effective for Most Serious Vasculitis Cases
Surprising Study Finds No Link Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Transfusion Risk After Knee Replacement
New Research Reveals Alterations in Blood of People at Risk of Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis
HSS Presents New Research at the ACR Convergence 2024
New Study Signals How Online Search Trends Could Lead to More Personalized Rheumatic Disease Care
Pregnancy can change your feet forever. Here's the science behind 'mom feet.'
Novel Drug Candidate Based on HSS Research Secures $70M Series A Financing and Will Begin Its First Clinical Trial in Europe
HSS Launches Clinical Trial to Address Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis after ACL Revision Surgery
Dr. Kyle Kunze- Growing in Residency
Liposomal bupivacaine may augment pain management for spinal fusion
HSS Celebrates Women's History Month (Dr. Suzanne Maher)