New partnership to create Translational Orthopedic Research Program

Program includes MSU, Spectrum Health, OAM, and Van Andel Institute among partners

The creation of the Translational Orthopedic Research Program (TORP), a new partnership of Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) and its affiliate the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Spectrum Health, Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan (OAM), and the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Human Medicine, was announced today by officials of the sponsoring organizations who gathered at Van Andel Institute for the World Osteoporosis Day Summit, a meeting spotlighting local osteoporosis efforts.

TORP will unify basic, applied, and clinical research programs to create a Center of Excellence for Orthopedic Research under the leadership of VARI Senior Scientific Investigator Bart Williams, Ph.D., with the major goal of positively impacting patient care in West Michigan.

"The TORP initiative was stimulated by the synergies created by the basic research on bone disease being carried out at VARI, and the clinical work of our partners," said Williams. "With input from national experts in the field, we are designing this partnership to have a significant impact on human health."

National experts on bone disease and orthopedic research convened with representatives of each of the partners in Grand Rapids in late September at a summit meeting where they provided models of successful orthopedic research programs.

VARI and TGen will head up most aspects of basic and applied research including the development and implementation of biomarkers, disease models, cell biology, genetics, imaging, and biomedical engineering. MSU, OAM and Spectrum will lead aspects of clinical research including clinical trials, treatments, education and prevention, and the collection and banking of biosamples and records.

The development of TORP has already stimulated the hiring of a joint recruit between VARI and Spectrum Health. Jim Mason, Ph.D., is a biomedical engineer who will focus his efforts on developing pre-clinical models for orthopedic disease and coordinating efforts in the local clinical community to develop infrastructure for clinical trials and community outreach.

"The 'perfect storm' has occurred with philanthropy, a non-nomadic patient population, an expert research institute, highly skilled orthopaedic surgeons with an active clinical research department, Level I trauma center, and a college of human medicine," said Clifford Jones M.D., OAM Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon. "This alliance has become greater than the sum of the parts."

"A unique opportunity to legitimize practice for optimal bone health clinical outcomes has surfaced for our community and beyond," said Debra Sietsema Ph.D., R.N., OAM Clinical Research Director.

"The goal of TORP is to work collaboratively within the region to create a center of excellence for orthopedic research and to serve as an organizing center for collaborative projects with interested community members," said VARI and TGen President and Research Director Dr. Jeffrey Trent. "It is yet another manifestation of the spirit of collaboration and cooperation that exists among the life science partners of the Medical Mile and the region as a whole."