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ISAKOS Research Grants Program

THANK YOU for your interest in the ISAKOS initiative for orthopaedic research and education. The purpose of the ISAKOS Research Grants Program is to provide ISAKOS members with a resource for funding the highest quality international research in arthroscopy, knee surgery and orthopaedic sports medicine. The applicant must be the principal investigator and an Active Member of ISAKOS in good standing.

ISAKOS Research Grants

The ISAKOS Research Grants are offered every two years, and winners have two years from the start date to complete their research project. Winners of the Clinical Outcomes Research Grant have up to 5 years to complete their research project. ISAKOS considers applications for four types of grants to support our Global Mission.

New Researcher

Four possible grants for eligible applications with scientific merit.

  • New Researcher grant qualification: has not received external funding over $15,000; no significant history of publication, presentations, or research/experiment participation.

Translational Research

Four possible grants for eligible applications with scientific merit.

  • Foster high quality clinical or translational research in early osteoarthritis and prevention, as well as treatment of osteoarthritis. 
  • Could include total knee replacement, osteotomy, meniscal transplant, OCD transplant, etc.

Clinical Outcomes

One grant for eligible applications with scientific merit.

  • Support outcomes research through well-designed clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of interventions in orthopaedic sports medicine
  • Example: Level I - III study on biologics in Rotator Cuff repair

Countries with Limited Resources

Two possible grants for eligible applications with scientific merit.

  • Awarded to a Finalist from a Country with Limited Resources based on World Bank Classifications for 2025-2026.

The objective of the ISAKOS Research Grants is to encourage quality research in the topic areas of knee surgery, sports medicine and arthroscopy. Clinical relevance must be clearly noted in the abstract and specific aims and be obvious from the title and the study design. Both laboratory and clinical projects are suitable, but in either case clinical relevance must be explicitly and clearly described.

Past Winners

2023-2025 ISAKOS Research Grant Winners

Clinical Outcomes:
Pietro S. Randelli, MD, Prof. ITALY
Project Title: Long term clinical outcome after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair augmentation with autologous microfragmented lipoaspirate tissue: a prospective randomized controlled trial

Countries with Limited Resources:
Theodorakys Marín Fermín, MD VENEZUELA
Project Title: Blood flow restriction-enhanced platelet-rich plasma: a pilot study

Camilo P. Helito MD, PhD, Prof BRAZIL
Project Title: Randomized clinical trial comparing the functional outcome of patients undergoing primary reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament with ipsilateral peroneus longus tendon x flexor tendon grafts after a 2-year

Translational Research:
Lika Dzidzishvili, MD SPAIN
Project Title: Histopathological, radiological, and biomechanical effects of root repair with and without a centralization suture. An in vivo study in a rabbit model.

Tiago Lazzaretti Fernandes MD, PhD, MSc BRAZIL
Project Title: Correlation between genetic and inflammatory markers for diagnosis and treatment prognosis in patients with osteoarthritis and cartilage injury

Girinivasan Chellamuthu, MBBS, MS Ortho INDIA
Project Title: Histological and Molecular Analysis of the dose-dependent variation in efficacy of Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Mesenchymal Stromal Cells-derived Exosomes in Knee Osteoarthritis– An in vivo animal study

New Researcher:
Martinique Vella-Baldacchino, MD, MRCS, PG CERT UNITED KINGDOM
Project Title: Stepping into a pain free future: Functional outcomes of Patellofemoral arthroplasty vs Total Knee Arthroplasty

Makena Jean Mbogori, MBChB, MMed Orthopaedic Surgery, FCS ECSA Orth CANADA
Project Title: Is Mixed Reality Telementoring the New Frontier in Surgical Training? A comparative analysis to in-person course-based training

Jacob Giovanni Calcei, MD UNITED STATES
Project Title: Characterizing and Optimizing Bone-Marrow Medicinal Signaling Cell (MSC) Secretome

Sheanna Tracy Maine, FRACS AUSTRALIA
Project Title: Integration of factors contributing to PFJ instability in a subject specific model of the lower limb.

2021-2023 ISAKOS Research Grant Winners

Clinical Outcomes:
U. Longo, MD, MSc, PhD, Prof ITALY
Project Title: Identifying predictive features of successful recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a machine learning analysis.

Countries with Limited Resources:
S. Piedade, MD, MSc, PhD, Associate Professor BRAZIL
Project Title: 4-DOMAIN SPORTS PROMS SOFTWARE
C. Franciozi, MD, PhD, Prof. BRAZIL
Project Title: Assessment of multiligament knee injuries: correlation between MRI, physical examination, radiographs with maximum manual stress, radiographs with kneeling posterior stress, radiographs with stress by the Telos system and digital rollimeter.

Translational Research:
A. Krych, MD UNITED STATES
Project Title: A Deep Learning, Artificially Intelligent, Digital Twin Framework for Early Detection and Prognostication of Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
J. Valladares, MD MEXICO
Project Title: Randomized double-blind clinical trial: Impact of placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on regeneration of partial-thickness lesions of the supraspinatus tendon.
S. Sundararajan, MS(Orth) INDIA
Project Title: Is OW-HTO alone or combined root repair with OW-HTO more efficient in retarding the progression of osteoarthritis and improve outcome? A 3-arm Randomised controlled trial -non-operative root tear (control) versus OW-HTO alone versus root repair with OW-H.

New Researcher:
F. Familiari, MD, Prof. ITALY
Project Title: How to predict persistent pain after total knee arthroplasty? The role of the innovative serum biomarker “Mu-Lympho-Marker”.
J. Martinez-Cano, MD, MSc COLOMBIA
Project Title: Acute conservative treatment of primary patellar dislocation.
J. Woodmass, MD, FRCSC CANADA
Project Title: Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment Options in Older Adults: A Multi-centre Randomized Controlled Trial of A Subacromial Balloon Spacer Versus Repair Surgery.

2019-2021 ISAKOS Research Grant Winners

Clinical Outcomes: Operative vs. Non-operative Management of Posterior-medial Meniscal Root Tears: A Randomized Multicenter International Trial
Jorge Chahla, MD, PhD UNITED STATES

Countries with Limited Resources: Correlation Between Knee Functional Scores and Pivot Shift Test Measurements In Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficient
Paulo H. M. Araujo, MD, PhD BRAZIL

Osteoarthritis: Early Signs of Osteoarthritis After ACL-Rupture; A Window of Opportunity For Osteoarthritis Prevention
Duncan E. Meuffels, MD, PhD NETHERLANDS

New Researcher: Hamstring Tendon Autograft versus Quadriceps Tendon Autograft for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Ross Radic, MBBS FRANCS (Ortho) FEOrthhA AUSTRALIA

2017-2019 ISAKOS Research Grant Winners

Clinical Outcomes: Cluster RCT of Implementation Strategies for ACL Injury Prevention
Robert G. Marx MD, MSc, FRCSC USA

New Researcher: Development of Computer Tablet Software for Quantification of Scapular Motion During Clinical Assessment of Scapular Dyskinesia
Tryfon Totlis MD, PhD GREECE

Osteoarthritis: Comparison of Tissue Engineered Construct (TEC) Derived of Human Stem Cells from Dental Pulp and Synovia on Articular Cartilage Regeneration
Tiago L. Fernandes MD, MSc, PhD BRAZIL

Who Should Apply?

Eligibility

The applicant must be the principal investigator and an Active Member of ISAKOS in good standing.

  • The orthopaedic surgeon/principal investigator must provide a statement on time to be allocated to the project indicating percent of average time allocated and how time will be spent. It is suggested that a timetable be provided as part of the Research Plan, to be included with the grant application.
  • All proposals must be clinical or translational, including the study of live patients, cadaveric models or animals.
  • Applicants are limited to one submission per individual for grant funding term.
  • ISAKOS will fund only one research grant per institution per year.
  • All members of the ISAKOS Grant Review Committee (IGRC) and the Executive Committee and their institutions are not eligible to apply. The ISAKOS Grant Review Committee (IGRC) consists of the Scientific Committee Chairs (Chair, Deputy Chair, and Immediate Past Chair). The Executive Committee will serve as final review of disputed winners. Elected Grants are sent to Executive Committee to confirm correct rules were followed for Review Process.
  • All members of Research Infrastructure Task Force are not eligible to apply. The Task Force will make recommendations related to international research collaborations and registries.

Important Dates

Application Available: At a later date
Grant Period: Annual upon receipt of notification
Grant Notification: Winners will be notified before the end of the year.
Grant Amount: $10,000 - $50,000 depending on Grant Type

Grant Application:

Please print, read and complete the following documents before starting the ISAKOS Research Grants online application.

  • Form 4: Biographical Sketch for Key Personnel
  • Form 5: Detailed Budget & Justification
  • Form 6: Other Support

ISAKOS Research Grants Policy

All ISAKOS Research Grants are expected to abide by the following Policy & Procedures

View Policy & Procedures

Questions?

Please contact the Grants Administrator at the ISAKOS office

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