The Duke Department of Orthopaedic Surgery’s Clinical Research Unit (CRU) is a cornerstone of our mission to advance musculoskeletal care through innovation and collaboration. The CRU is pivotal in supporting clinical research efforts across all Duke Orthopaedics faculty, overseeing and facilitating access to pre-and post-award funding from industry, foundation, and federal sources. By fostering interdisciplinary partnerships, the CRU helps ensure that our research continues to push the boundaries of knowledge and care.
The CRU remains central to the department's continued success as Duke Orthopaedics expands its research initiatives across diverse areas such as engineering, cellular and developmental sciences, whole-body kinematics, and population biology. While clinical research has long been the core strength of our surgical faculty, the CRU has been instrumental in evolving this focus to include a growing portfolio of industry-funded projects. These partnerships, which often center around the functionality of medical devices implanted in patients, are essential for advancing patient outcomes and scientific discovery.
Moreover, the CRU’s collaborative approach is strengthened by the involvement of several Duke Orthopaedics faculty members with joint appointments at the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI), which enhances opportunities for cost-effective, high-impact research. Through these efforts, the CRU ensures that Duke Orthopaedics remains at the forefront of clinical research, advancing treatments and improving lives worldwide.
