We are delighted to announce the recipients of the Orthopaedic Academic Excellence Award (Ortho-AEA): Drs. Alex Hoffer, Lisa Howard, and Michael Bond.
“This year’s applications showcased creativity, solid methodology, and a clear commitment to advancing patient-centered orthopaedic research. The Committee was inspired by the calibre and enthusiasm of our emerging investigators.” – Dr. Thomas Oxland, Associate Head, Academic, UBC Department of Orthopaedics and Professor of Orthopaedics and Mechanical Engineering at UBC.
Established in 2024, the Ortho‑AEA aims to foster a culture of academic scholarship within UBC Orthopaedics by supporting the development of outstanding new faculty researchers. The program provides three‑year grant funding to early‑career investigators who primarily focus on clinical care but demonstrate exceptional promise in orthopaedic scholarship – whether in research, education, or innovation.
Alex Hoffer
Dr. Alex Hoffer’s research focuses on three key pathophysiologic pillars in the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis.
First, they will evaluate the effect of femoral and tibial realignment osteotomy on articular cartilage using advanced imaging techniques, including T2 mapping and weight-bearing open MRI in different knee positions. Second, they will investigate the biomechanical and clinical impact of meniscal ramp lesions in the setting of anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Finally, Dr. Hoffer and his team are in the final stages of obtaining UBC ethics approval for a first-in-human clinical study assessing the safety of an off-the-shelf cartilage implant (Nanochon Chondrograft™) for the treatment of discrete cartilage lesions in the knee. More information on this trial is available on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT07249489).
If you have a patient who you think may be appropriate for these studies, please email Manuja Annthakumar, Clinical Research Coordinator, at manuja.annthakumar@fraserhealth.ca.
Lisa Howard
Dr. Lisa Howard’s research addresses one of the last frontiers of total hip replacement: how spinopelvic imbalance impacts postoperative dislocation. Aside from infection, this is one of the few areas where research has yet to “move the needle,” as patients with stiff spines face a significantly higher risk of dislocation that traditional surgical procedures cannot easily accommodate. By bridging the gap between spinal mechanics and joint arthroplasty, Dr. Howard’s work aims to determine how to personalized surgical techniques to protect these high-risk patients.
Dr. Howard’s work leverages UBC’s Upright MRI, the only system of its kind in North America, to assess soft‑tissue impingement and hip–spine mechanics in functional positions. This imaging capability allows her team to study how the hip moves in relation to the spine and lays the foundation for developing an implant‑positioning algorithm. Combined with existing robotic technologies, this approach aims to precisely place implants and lower dislocation risk. Together, these tools position UBC at the forefront of advancing personalized hip arthroplasty.
“The AEA grant is going to allow me to conduct a pilot study to first understand normal spinopelvic balance in comparison to abnormal spine and hip mechanics. This will position us to seek further funding to then expand this research.”
Michael Bond
Dr. Bond’s research focuses on how patients with spinal conditions access health care services across Canada. Spine conditions are among the leading causes of pain and disability for Canadians and are often managed through a fragmented system of care. His work aims to establish a longitudinal cohort of patients with spinal conditions that do not require surgery, in order to better understand the natural history of these conditions, the health services patients use, and their experiences navigating the health care system.
“Support from the Academic Excellence Award through the Department of Orthopaedics will enable the creation of a longitudinal database for patients seen in the Spine Clinic at the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre. This research has the potential to inform health care policy, improve access to care, and ultimately enhance outcomes for patients living with non-operative spinal conditions.”
Ortho-AEA funds offer leverage to secure further funding
Since its launch, the Ortho-AEA has helped early-career investigators generate pilot data, build collaborations, and secure major external funding.
Dr. David Wilson, Professor and Head of the Division of Orthopaedics Research, and Dr. Parth Lodhia, Clinical Instructor at UBC Orthopaedics, recently received a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis Priority Announcement Grant. Supported by Ortho-AEA pilot funding, their project uses advanced MRI techniques – including UBC’s Upright Open MRI – to improve understanding of hip microinstability and detect early joint degeneration. The work highlights strong collaboration between Orthopaedics and Biomedical Engineering.
The Ortho-AEA is also strengthening research training pathways. Second-year Orthopaedics Resident Jackson Robinson was awarded a $10,000 Residents SEED Grant for a pilot study measuring patient compliance with weight-bearing restrictions after lower extremity fracture surgery. The project is supervised by Dr. David Stockton, an inaugural Ortho-AEA recipient, and aims to improve rehabilitation protocols through objective patient monitoring.
Together, these achievements demonstrate how the Ortho-AEA provides the support to accelerate research innovation, mentorship, and patient-centered care across UBC Orthopaedics.
Congratulations once again to Drs. Alex Hoffer, Lisa Howard and Michael Bond!