BMRC Lab Naming Ceremony Celebrates Bethel Family and Newly Upgraded Space
The Orland Bethel Family Musculoskeletal Research Center (BMRC) recently celebrated the naming of its newly upgraded laboratory space in the Biomedical Science Tower (BST) with a ceremony honoring Mr. Orland Bethel and his family. The event was attended by University...
Dr. Nam Vo Appointed Ruby and James Kang, MD Chair in Orthopaedic Spine Surgery
We are proud to announce that Dr. Nam Vo has been appointed the Ruby and James Kang, MD Chair in Orthopaedic Spine Surgery in the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, effective September 1, 2025. Dr. Vo’s appointment reflects his outstanding achievements as a...
First Edition of the BMRC Journal – Out Now!
We are excited to share the inaugural issue of the BMRC Journal! This first edition features a welcome letter from our Executive Director, Dr. Joon Y. Lee, an exclusive interview with one of the top-ranked orthopaedic researchers in the world, Dr. Farshid Guilak, on...
First Annual BMRC Symposium Features Discovery, Collaboration and Celebration
The Bethel Musculoskeletal Research Center (BMRC) proudly hosted its first annual Symposium on Friday, September 5, 2025 bringing together nearly 160 faculty, staff, students, and researchers for a full day of research, collaboration and celebration. This year's...
Announcing the 2025 Class of Bethel/ORS Fellows
We are proud to announce the selection of the 2025 class of Bethel/ORS Fellows of the Bethel Musculoskeletal Research Center (BMRC), part of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and the Orthopaedic Research Society...
BMRC Celebrates 2025 SSRP Students
Last week marked the culmination of our 9-week Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) with our annual Poster Presentation Day.Throughout the summer, these undergraduate students were immersed in hands-on lab work, mentorship, and weekly seminars led by BMRC Core...
BMRC Core Labs Celebrate Publications in JB&JS and NASSJ
BMRC Core Lab members have been published in multiple publications this summer, including the Fall 2025 issue of North American Spine Society Journal (NASSJ) for their study to evaluate risk factors for 30-day hospital readmission following elective decompressive...
BMRC Mentorship & Outreach Fellow Dr. John Drazan Brings STEM Ed to Australia
BMRC/ORS Mentorship & Outreach Fellow John Drazan is currently in Australia as part of the "Promoting STEM Pathways and EducationUSA through Sport" initiative. He's wrapping up week one of two today and has made stops in Sydney and Canberra so far to give...
Husband and Wife Both Have Life-Changing Spine Surgery
Mary Lou and Fred Offman of Portage, Pennsylvania, have been married for 56 years. The trajectory of their lives changed forever when they met each other. Their lives also changed when they met Joon Lee, MD. Dr. Lee helped them overcome debilitating conditions — three...
New, Rare Biobank Stores Samples Vital to Musculoskeletal Research
The existence of the Orland Bethel Family Musculoskeletal Research Center is thanks to grateful patient Orland Bethel, founder of Hillandale Farms. Bethel was treated for a debilitating spinal condition by Joon Lee, MD, spine surgeon and professor of orthopaedic...
Summer Program Helps Early-Career Researchers Develop Vital Skills
The Orland Bethel Family Musculoskeletal Research Center (BMRC)launched its first-ever Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) in 2024, a competitive program designed to foster the next generation of musculoskeletal researchers. The program was created to provide...
Meet The Researcher: Q&A with Prashanta Silwal, PhD
On the Orland Bethel Family Musculoskeletal Research Center (BMRC) team is Prashanta Silwal, PhD, an international postdoctoral associate at the University of Pittsburgh. He is working toward identifying molecular and cellular mechanisms of low-back pain and...