The Bethel Musculoskeletal Research Center (BMRC) proudly hosted its 2nd annual Symposium on September 25, 2026, bringing together faculty, Bethel Fellows, trainees, clinicians, and research partners for a day dedicated to research and collaboration. The event showcased the breadth of translational research taking place across the University of Pittsburgh, UPMC, and the broader musculoskeletal research community.
This year’s Symposium highlighted BMRC’s ongoing commitment to advancing patient care through research excellence and offering an important stepping stone for the next generation of MSK scientists and leaders.
The day opened with welcome remarks from BMRC and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery leadership, followed by a fireside discussion on translational musculoskeletal research and innovation featuring Evan Facher, PhD, MBA, Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Pittsburgh. The conversation explored the pathways that help transform scientific discoveries into real-world solutions for the communities we serve.
A highlight of the morning was the keynote presentation from Emily Calandrelli, MIT-trained engineer, Emmy-nominated science television host, #1 New York Times bestselling author, and the 100th woman to fly to space. Drawing from her experiences in science communication, Calandrelli inspired attendees to remain curious, strive to make diverse voices heard and to see failure as simply a “plot twist”, not the end of the journey.
Next up, we welcomed the 2025 BMRC/ORS Bethel Fellows, who shared research supported through their fellowship grants. Topics ranged from novel therapeutic strategies for osteoarthritis and intervertebral disc degeneration to musculoskeletal infection prevention, muscle health in aging populations, and the effects of diet on musculoskeletal disease. We were pleased to discover that Dr. Kristine Godziuk is currently applying for a NIH R01 grant, in part due to the support and funding she received as a Bethel Fellow.
Following lunch, attendees participated in a poster session featuring research abstracts representing diverse areas of musculoskeletal investigation, including orthopaedic oncology, spine research, sports medicine, regenerative medicine, biomechanics, aging, infection, and concussion research. Presenters were judged by an expert panel and awards were given in the following categories:
- Predoctoral Award, Preclinical Research: Beethi Sinha
- Postdoctoral Award, Clinical Research: Emily Fannick, PhD
- Predoctoral Award, Clinical Research: Noah Feder
- Postdoctoral Award, Preclinical Research: Hiroki Kaneta, MD
Our Symposium concluded with discussions focused on strengthening collaboration across our home region and leveraging emerging technologies to accelerate discovery. Matthew Dietz, MD, FAOA, Chair of the Department of Orthopaedics at West Virginia University School of Medicine gave a talk titled Regional Alliances: Beyond the Brawl – Building the Region’s Musculoskeletal Alliance, where heexplored opportunities for collaboration among institutions throughout the region. Using the Pitt-WVU football rivalry as a backdrop, he brought light to how similar our institutions are and the elevated patient care we could offer to our patients if we leverage our diverse strengths.
Finally our Next-Gen MSK: Synergizing Biospecimens and Machine Learning highlighted the growing role of biobanking, artificial intelligence, and data-driven research in shaping the future of musculoskeletal medicine.
We thank all presenters, attendees, volunteers, sponsors, and the BMRC planning committee members whose contributions made this year’s event a success!