The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) is calling for applications for the inaugural Arnold I. Caplan Award for Distinguished Research in Orthobiologics, a new award program which recognizes and honors significant contributions to advancing biologics solutions for musculoskeletal injuries or pathologies.
Inaugural Arnold I. Caplan Award: Call for Applications
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“Dr. Caplan was often called the ‘godfather of Medicinal Signaling Cells’—a critical thinker and scientist who spent decades exploring ways to translate stem cell biology to the clinic,” said AAOS Committee on Devices, Biologics and Technology Chair Jason L. Dragoo, M.D. “It is a pleasure to work with the Caplan family to honor his unwavering dedication to scientific advancement. This award will recognize those who embody Dr. Caplan’s spirit of innovation and excellence, and we are confident it will continue to fuel the future of orthobiologics.”
This award was created through the generosity of the Caplan family with funding overseen by the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation. All applications will be reviewed for scientific merit by the AAOS Committee on Devices, Biologics and Technology. The first Caplan Award recipient will be recognized at the AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego and will receive a desktop award in addition to a cash prize of $10,000.
“Dr. Caplan spent decades exploring ways to translate stem cell biology to the clinic,” said Dr. Dragoo to OTW. “I think one of the highlights of his work is the description of the Medicinal Signaling Cells also known as MSCs. Applicants should know that Dr. Caplan was a pioneer in biologics. Many of his discoveries have led to patient treatments being used today. It is a pleasure to work with the Caplan family to create an award that honors his unwavering dedication to scientific advancement. Dr. Caplan was a wonderful man—a very positive and a cherished colleague to all.”
“The Caplan family is incredibly pleased to honor Arnold’s scientific legacy by bestowing this award on behalf of someone who has spent a lifetime advancing the field and recognizing the next generation of scientific explorers,” said Bonita Caplan, Arnold’s wife of 58 years.
To view the award criteria or submit an application, click here. Nomination deadline: November 3, 2024.
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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