Post by University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

When surgeons and scientists work together, discoveries move further.   For University of Rochester Medicine orthopaedic surgeon Ben Riccardi, MD, the conversations often start with a difficult decision in the operating room. How can we better predict which patients with chronic bone infections will recover? When is it safe to leave an implant in place, and when is removing it the better option? These are questions that directly affect patient care, but they require answers that extend beyond the clinic.   That's where surgeon-scientist partnerships make a difference. A scientist in our Center for Musculoskeletal Research, Gowri Muthukrishnan, PhD, investigates the biological mechanisms behind the challenges clinicians encounter every day. By working closely with Ben to brainstorm research questions and design clinical trials, they connect discoveries made in the lab with real-world patient needs.   Their collaboration has already produced important findings, including evidence that immune cells involved in chronic bone infections behave similarly to those seen in certain cancers. That insight has led to new ways to predict patient outcomes, exploration of existing FDA-approved therapies in new context, and clinical trials that could ultimately improve treatment decisions for patients. At URochester Medicine, partnerships like this are more than collaborations. They're part of the culture. As Gowri describes it, surgeon-scientist dyads are a "secret sauce" of the department, bringing together complementary expertise to accelerate discoveries and move promising research from the laboratory toward better patient care.