Massachusetts General Hospital

In spring 2010, the Laboratory for Musculoskeletal Research and Innovation, was established under the direction of Dr. S. Adam Hacking, Ph.D. The mandate of the lab is to address critical issues in orthopaedics and develop technology to improve patient care.

Dr. Hacking brings in vivo and in vitro expertise in bone tissue engineering, biomaterials development and analysis, fracture and graft healing and implant osseointegration. His work at the MGH is focused on novel methods to fight implant infection; methods to enhance implant fixation; the use of non-invasive techniques to assess skeletal integrity and implant fixation; methods to improve defect healing, fracture healing and allograft incorporation; and the use of micro-fabrication techniques to generate bone from its fundamental unit, the osteon.

The lab is highly motivated by collaborative projects with translational approaches and clinical relevance. Current collaborations exist with the Department of Radiology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Wyss Institute for biologically inspired engineering, the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) at Harvard University, the Department of Materials Science at McGill University, the Industrial Materials Institute (National Research Council, Canada) and the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Riverside.

Director:

• S. Adam Hacking, Ph.D

Postdoctoral Fellows:

• Jing Wang, MD/PhD
• Martin Rottman, MD/PhD
• Jue Wang, MD/PhD
• Joel Goldberg, PhD

Research Assistants:

• Steven Chung, BEng

Medical Students:

• Omar Badri, BA – Harvard Medical Student

Undergraduate Students:

• Madeline Zhu – Harvard Undergraduate Student
• Theodore Guild – Harvard Undergraduate Student
• Peter McCarthy – Harvard Undergraduate Student

Previous Members:

• Prof. Edward Haeggstrom – Visiting Professor, University of Helsinki
• Jun Xiao – MD/PhD (Postdoctoral fellow)
• William Murphy – Harvard Undergraduate Student
• Uday Sarapelli – Berkley Undergraduate Student

Please note: Openings at the Masters, Doctoral and Postdoctoral level are available for applicants with their own financial support (funding).

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS) are world-class biomedical research institutions dedicated to improving health worldwide. Research positions are available within the MGH Department of Orthopedics in the fields of implant infection and bone tissue engineering.

We offer excellent training in an interdisciplinary, translational, productive and world-recognized research environment. The successful candidate will be engaged in multiple collaborative projects with significant opportunities for leadership and career development.

1) Implant Infection
Areas of research interest should include molecular biology, bacterial contamination, cell biology and culture and drug release. It is preferred that the applicant have a strong background in implant infection and/or drug release and related experimental techniques.

2) Bone Tissue Engineering
Areas of research interest should include stem cell biology, cell culture, molecular biology and bone biology. It is preferred that the applicant have a strong background in bone tissue engineering, scaffold fabrication, endothelial and osteoblast cell culture and techniques. Strong candidates from other areas of tissue engineering may be considered.

Responsibilities The successful applicant will work in a multidisciplinary research environment to design and conduct experiments, perform data analyses and implement novel research methods relevant for studies of implant infection or the fabrication and application of tissue engineered bone. The applicant will play a major role in determining new research directions, writing grants, drafting manuscripts and presenting results at professional meetings.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Ph.D. (or equivalent) with training relevant to one of the projects described above
• Demonstrated potential to excel in a fast paced, collaborative research environment
• Applicant should present a strong publication record and demonstrate independence in research
• Fully funded applicants from relevant disciplines are encouraged to apply
• Excellent command of spoken and written English is essential
• Ability to keep good records and work independently is essential

Book Chapter

1. Hacking SA, Yannan D, and Khademhosseini A. “Fabrication Methods and Biological Applications of Patterned Polymers”. in Comprehensive Polymer Science. Edited by R. Langer and D. Tirrell. Elsevier Inc. (In press, 2011).
2. Hacking SA, and Khademhosseini A. "Cells and Surfaces in vitro” In Biomaterials Science, 3rd Ed. Edited by Buddy D. Ratner, Allan S. Hoffman, Jack E. Lemons, and Frederick J. Schoen. Elsevier Inc. (In press, 2011)
3. Hacking SA, Madhokt M, Ye Y., Nichol J, Khademhosseini A. "Future outlook for Tissue engineering with Hydrogels." in Hydrogels: Properties, Preparation and Applications. Nova Science Publishers, Inc. (2010)

Journal Publications

1. Baril E, Lefebvre LP, Hacking SA. Direct visualization and quantification of bone growth into porous titanium implants using micro computed tomography. J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2011 May;22(5):1321-32. View PDF.
2. Xu F, Moon SJ, Emre AE, Turali ES, Song YS, Hacking SA, Nagatomi J, Demirci U. A droplet-based building block approach for bladder smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation. Biofabrication. 2010 Mar;2(1):014105.
3. Hacking SA, Pauyo T, Lim L, Legoux JG, Bureau MN. Tissue response to the components of a hydroxyapatite-coated composite femoral implant. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2010 Sep 1;94(3):953-60.
4. Salvi AE, Hacking SA. Posterior spinal interspinous arthrodesis L4-S1 with two bone sticks harvested from the tibias. Good outcome at the 13-year follow-up. Spine J. 2010 Apr;10(4):359.
5. Hacking SA, Kachouie NN, Lee WG, Khademhosseini A. Future approaches to organ regeneration: microscale environments, stem cell engineering, and self-assembly of living tissues. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2009;149:214-35.
6. Hacking SA, Khademhosseini A. Applications of microscale technologies for regenerative dentistry. J Dent Res. 2009 May;88(5):409-21.
7. Salvi AE, Dakovic I, Hacking SA. The invention of the Balkan beam frame. Injury. 2009 Nov;40(11):1237-8.
8. Dimitrievska S, Whitfield J, Hacking SA, Bureau MN. Novel carbon fiber composite for hip replacement with improved in vitro and in vivo osseointegration. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2009 Oct;91(1):37-51.
9. Le Nihouannen D, Hacking SA, Gbureck U, Komarova SV, Barralet JE. The use of RANKL-coated brushite cement to stimulate bone remodelling. Biomaterials. 2008 Aug;29(22):3253-9.
10. Hacking SA, Harvey E, Roughley P, Tanzer M, Bobyn J. The response of mineralizing culture systems to microtextured and polished titanium surfaces. J. Orthop Res. 2008 Oct;26(10):1347-54. PMID: 18404719. View PDF.
11. Salvi AE, Metelli GP, Bettinsoli R, Hacking SA. Arthroscopic-assisted fibular synthesis and syndesmotic stabilization of a complex unstable ankle injury. Arch. Orthop Trauma Surg. 2009 Mar;129(3):393-6.
12. Sosale G, Hacking SA, Vengallatore S. Topography Analysis of Grit-Blasted and Grit-Blasted-Acid-Etched Titanium Implant Surfaces Using Multi-Scale Measurements and Multi-Parameter Statistics. Journal of Materials Research, 2008 Oct; 23(10).
13. Hacking SA, Zuraw M, Harvey EJ, Tanzer M, Krygier JJ, Bobyn JD. A physicalvapor deposition method for controlled evaluation of biological response to biomaterial chemistry and topography. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2007.
14. Bobyn JD, Hacking SA, Krygier JJ, Harvey EJ, Little DG, Tanzer M. Zoledronic acid causes enhancement of bone growth into porous implants. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2005 Mar;87(3):416-20.
15. Hacking SA, Harvey EJ, Tanzer M, Krygier JJ, Bobyn JD. Acid-etched microtexture for enhancement of bone growth into porous-coated implants. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2003 Nov;85(8):1182-9. View PDF.
16. Dardenne O, Prud'homme J, Hacking SA, Glorieux FH, St-Arnaud R. Correction of the abnormal mineral ion homeostasis with a high-calcium, high-phosphorus, high-lactose diet rescues the PDDR phenotype of mice deficient for the 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27B1). Bone. 2003 Apr;32(4):332-40.
17. Dardenne O, Prudhomme J, Hacking SA, Glorieux FH, St-Arnaud R. Rescue of the pseudo-vitamin D deficiency rickets phenotype of CYP27B1-deficient mice by treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3: biochemical, histomorphometric, and biomechanical analyses. J Bone Miner Res. 2003 Apr;18(4):637-43.
18. St-Arnaud R, Dardenne O, Prud'homme J, Hacking SA, Glorieux FH. Conventional and tissue-specific inactivation of the 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27B1). J Cell Biochem. 2003 Feb 1;88(2):245-51. PubMed PMID: 12520522.
19. Hacking SA, Tanzer M, Harvey EJ, Krygier JJ, Bobyn JD. Hip Society Award Paper. Relative contributions of chemistry and topography to the osseointegration of hydroxyapatite coatings. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2002 Dec;(405):24-38. View PDF.
20. Hacking SA, Bobyn JD, Toh K, Tanzer M, Krygier JJ. Fibrous tissue ingrowth and attachment to porous tantalum. J Biomed Mater Res. 2000 Dec 15;52(4):631-8. View PDF.
21. Bobyn JD, Stackpool GJ, Hacking SA, Tanzer M, Krygier JJ. Characteristics of bone ingrowth and interface mechanics of a new porous tantalum biomaterial. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1999 Sep;81(5):907-14.
22. Hacking SA, Bobyn JD, Tanzer M, Krygier JJ. The osseous response to corundum blasted implant surfaces in a canine hip model. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1999 Jul;(364):240-53. View PDF.
23. Bobyn JD, Toh KK, Hacking SA, Tanzer M, Krygier JJ. Tissue response to porous tantalum acetabular cups: a canine model. J Arthroplasty. 1999 Apr;14(3):347-54.
24. Harvey EJ, Bobyn JD, Tanzer M, Stackpool GJ, Krygier JJ, Hacking SA. Effect of flexibility of the femoral stem on bone-remodeling and fixation of the stem in a canine total hip arthroplasty model without cement. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1999 Jan;81(1):93-107.

Laboratory for Musculoskeletal Research & Innovation

Phone: 617-643-8762
Fax: 617-726-3883
Email: ahacking@partners.org