19th MSI Research Day Draws Nearly 100

UConn Musculoskeletal Institute's 2025 event focuses on osteoarthritis

Three people speaking in front of research posters

From left: Dr. Lisa Tamburini, second-year orthopedic surgery resident, Dr. Francine Zeng, third-year orthopedic surgery resident, and Dr. Owen Kasmarski, first-year orthopedic surgery resident, speak in front of Tamburini's poster presentation, titled "Biomechanical Evaluation of Osteochondral Allografts: Approach and Rationale." (Photo by Lisa Cianchetti)

Resident giving presentation at podium next to projector screen
Dr. Jordan Bauer, second-year orthopedic surgery resident, presents at UConn Health's MSI Research Day, March 14, 2025. (Photo by Lisa Cianchetti)

Nearly 100 current and future physicians and scientists attended 2025 UConn Musculoskeletal Institute (MSI) Research Day, March 11 at the Cell and Genome Sciences Building.

The day included oral presentations, a symposium on osteoarthritis, 18 poster presentations, an awards ceremony, and a keynote address from an international leader in the field of cartilage and developmental biology.

Dr. Ernesto Canalis speaking at podium
Dr. Ernesto Canalis, MSI co-director, speaks at MSI Research Day at UConn Health, March 14, 2025. (Photo by Lisa Cianchetti)

"This is a day where clinical and research faculty meet and get together to share recent accomplishments in musculoskeletal research at the University of Connecticut," says Dr. Ernesto Canalis, professor of orthopedic surgery and medicine and MSI co-director. "It allows for interactions among faculty and presentations by faculty, students, residents, and trainees."

It was the 19th MSI research day and the most well-attended since before the pandemic, with the UConn School of Medicine's Departments of Orthopedic Surgery, Medicine, and Neuroscience represented, as well as the UConn School of Dental Medicine's Center for Regenerative Medicine and the Department of Biomedical Engineering, a joint department of the dental, medical, and engineering schools.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Maurizio Pacifici, director of research at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Guest speaker presenting from podium near projector screen
Dr. Maurizio Pacifici, director of research at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, delivers the keynote address at UConn Health's MSI Research Day, March 14, 2025. (Photo by Lisa Cianchetti)

"Dr. Pacifici was an ideal speaker, as he has first-hand experience translating basic science discoveries into clinical treatment - a core mission of the UConn MSI", says Dr. Isaac Moss, professor and chair of orthopedic surgery and MSI co-director.

"Participants leave this event having learned recent advances in musculoskeletal research at UConn, with the opportunity to learn from a national leader," Canalis says. "Faculty interactions are expected to lead to new collaborative efforts to enhance research in the musculoskeletal field."

Portrait of four men in front of research posters
From left: Research intern Tomer Korabelnikov, Dr. Cory Edgar, clinical research assistant Nandan Nayak, and research intern Rohan Patel are among those who collaborated on projects presented at MSI Research Day at UConn Health, March 14, 2025. (Photo by Lisa Cianchetti)

Awards presented:

  • Best MD/Ph.D., Marta Stetsiv
  • Best Graduate Student, Biology, Kai Clarke
  • Best Graduate Student, Engineering, Travis Wallace
  • Best Young Innovative Investigator Program, Arianna Cedeño
  • Best Undergraduate Student, Bailey Millis
  • Best Medical Student, Daniel Brocke
  • Best Orthopedic Research Resident Fellow, Lisa Tamburini
  • Best Orthopedic Research Fellow, Rohan Patel
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