Clinical interests center on joint diseases and bone circulation, in OA and osteonecrosis. Recent studies have involved delineating the role of arthroscopy in OA, elucidating the role of bone marrow edema in joint pain, and studying the use of anti-resorptive therapy in osteonecrosis.

In the laboratory, Dr. Aaron is investigating aspects of the
pathophysiology of OA focusing on circulatory disturbances in subchondral bone and the relationship of bone and
cartilage abnormalities.

Biography

Roy K. Aaron, M.D. is professor of orthopaedic surgery and professor
of molecular pharmacology, physiology and biotechnology. He is
director of the VA Center for Restorative and Regenerative Medicine
and the Brown Program for Recovery from Trauma.

Dr. Aaron graduated from Lafayette College and SUNY Downstate Medical
School. He did an internship in internal medicine at Montefiore
Hospital - Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and a year
of general surgery residency at the U.S. Public Health Service
Hospital, Staten Island, New York. Dr. Aaron completed a surgical
research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, a residency
in the Harvard Orthopaedic Program and a fellowship in arthritis
surgery at the Robert Brigham Hospital in Boston. He then returned
to NIH for three years of research in cartilage biochemistry.

Institutions

RIH

Research Description

Professor Aaron's clinical interests are in the surgical treatment of arthritis including joint replacement, arthroscopy, foot reconstruction, and rehabilitation, and he has been on several national and international panels dealing with the treatment of osteonecrosis. His laboratory interests center on inflammation and the stimulation of cartilage repair. The laboratory is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and has been continuously externally funded for 18 years.

Awards

2009 Clinical and Translational Neurosciences Advisory Council, Lifespan Academic Medical Center
2006 Lifetime Achievement Award, NE Arthritis Foundation: "New Paradigms in the Management of Joint Diseases"
2003-2006 Strategic Planning Subcommittee, Curriculum Committee, Brown Medical School
2005 (Chair) Brown University Search Committee for the Vice President of Research
2003-2004 Brown University Search Committee for the Dean of Biology and Medicine
2000-2003 Curriculum Committee, Brown Medical School
2003 Brown Medical School LCME Task Force for Reaccreditation
2003 Brown Medical School Search Committee for Director, Division of Rheumatology
2001 Brown Medical School Search Committee for Ehrlich Chair of Orthopedic Research
1987 Iwao Yasuda Award (B.R.A.G.S.) for Excellence in Bioelectrical Research.

Affiliations

2003- Scientific Team, Brown - NIH Osteoarthritis Initiative
2009 NIH CSR Special Emphasis Panel, Musculoskeletal, Oral and Skin Sciences IRG
2009 Moderator, "Visualizing Skeletal Pathology", 3rd New York Symposium on Skeletal Biology and Medicine
2009 Speaker, "Development Perspective on Regeneration", State of the Science Workshop: Regenerative Rehabilitation, Walter Reed Army Medical Center
2009 NE Representative, Arthritis Foundation Osteoarthritis Alliance Leadership Group
2007-2009 Board of Directors, Orthopaedic Research Society
2005-2008 Special Projects and Education Committee, Orthopaedic Research Society (Chair 2007)
2008 Speaker, "Perfusion Abnormalities in Subchondral Bone Associated with Marrow Edema, OA and AVN", Musculoskeletal Biology and Bioengineering Gordon Research Conference
2008 Faculty, ORS/OREF/AAOS, Grant Writing Course, San Francisco, CA
2007 Moderator, "Subchondral Bone and Osteoarthritis", Orthopaedic Research Society
2007 Moderator, "Orthopaedic War Injuries - From Combat Casualty Care to Definitive Treatment" ORS/AAOS Combined Symposium
2007 Moderator, "Infection, Inflammation, and Bone", 2nd Conference on Skeletal Biology and Medicine, New York Academy of Sciences
2006 Brown Corporation Spring Meeting: "Program for Recovery from Trauma"
2006 Speaker, "War Extremity Injuries" AAOS Symposium
2005 Speaker, "Skeletal Development and Remodeling in Health, Disease and Aging" New York Academy of Sciences Symposium
2005 Speaker, "Developmental Sequences in Clinical Orthopedics and Their Modulation by Sequential Drug Delivery" Controlled Release Society
2002-2005 Instructional Course Lecturer, "Osteonecrosis", American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
2004 NIH, CSR, Special Study Section
2004 Reviewer, Orthopaedic Basic Science, 3rd edition, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
1998-2003 NIH Study Section, Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Disease
1997-2003 Committee on Research, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
2003 Chair, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Scientific Workshop, "Physical Regulation of Skeletal Repair"
2003 Organizer, "Physical Regulation of Skeletal Repair" Symposium, Orthopaedic Research Society
2003 Delphi Panel on Osteonecrosis, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Master of Arts (ad eun.), Brown University
2002 NIH, NIAMS, Special Study Section
2001 NIH, NIAMS, Special Study Section
2001 NIH, CSR, Special Study Section
2001 Moderator, "Bone Biology", Orthopaedic Research Society
2001- 2003 Ethics Committee, Rhode Island Hospital
2000 Faculty, Harvard Hip Course
2000 Program Committee, Orthopaedic Research Society
2000 Moderator, "Osteoarthritis", Orthopaedic Research Society
1999-2000 Surdna Foundation Fellow, Brown University Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research
1998 NIH, NIEHS Science Review Symposium: Clinical and In Vivo Laboratory Findings. Rapporteur: "Tissue Healing"
1997 Moderator, "Stimulation of Bone and Cartilage" Second World Congress for Electricity and Magnetism in Biology and Medicine
1997 Speaker, Skeletal Morphogenesis Workshop, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
1997 NIH, NIEHS Science Review Symposium: In Vitro Studies
1997 Faculty, Harvard Hip Course
1996-97 Discusser, "Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head,"
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
1996 Speaker, Duke University Symposium on Etiology, Diagnosis and Management of Osteonecrosis
1994-95 Council, Second World Congress for Electricity and Magnetism in Biology and Medicine
1993-95 Instructional Course Lecturer, "Osteonecrosis,"
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
1994 Faculty, Harvard Hip Course
1994 Moderator, "Chondrocyte Responses to Mechanical and Electrical Stimuli", Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine
1994 Moderator, "Models of Physical Signal Detection," Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine
1994 Moderator, "Clinical Symposium on Bioelectromagnetics in Medicine," Bioelectromagnetics Society
1994 Moderator, "Medical Applications of Electric and Magnetic Fields," Bioelectromagnetics Society
1993 Moderator, "In Vivo Modeling Techniques," Bioelectrical Repair and Growth Society
1992 Special Interest Symposium Lecturer, American Society for Cell Biology
1991-92 Chairman, Medical/Scientific Committee, Rhode Island Arthritis Foundation
1991-92 President, Bioelectrical Repair and Growth Society
1990-92 Council and Chairman, Clinical Program Committee, First World Congress for Electricity and Magnetism in Biology and Medicine
1986-92 Committee on Basic Science, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
1992 Moderator, "Clinical Applications," First World Congress for Electricity and Magnetism in Biology and Medicine
1991 Moderator, "Field Effects on Bone and Cartilage," Bioelectrical Repair and Growth Society
1990 Moderator, "Bone and Cartilage Stimulation," Bioelectrical Repair and Growth Society
1990 Moderator, "Mechanisms of Response to Electromagnetic Fields in Bone Healing," Bioelectromagnetics Society
1989-92 Council, Bioelectrical Repair and Growth Society
1989-91 Program Committee, Bioelectrical Repair and Growth Society
1989 Moderator, "Clinical Experience with Pulsing Electromagnetic Fields," Bioelectrical Repair and Growth Society
1989 Moderator, "Application of Time-Varying Fields for Tissue Healing," Bioelectromagnetics Society
1989 Moderator, "Growth Factors and Bone," Orthopaedic Research Society
1989 Program Committee, Orthopaedic Research Society
1988-89 Program Committee, Bioelectromagnetics Society

Funded Research

VA A3772C
Director
Rebuilding, Regenerating and Restoring Function after Limb Loss
$13,425,000
2004-2014
The goal of this grant is to develop technologically advanced solutions to functional loss after limb trauma. Approaches include robotic prosthetics, neuro prosthetics interfaces, limb lengthening and tissue engineering.

NIH K24 AR 02128-06A2
Principal Investigator
Physicochemical Signaling in Osteoarthritis
$632,000
2008-2012
Explores vascular dynamics in subchondral bone in osteoarthritis.

NIH P20 RR024484-01
Mentor
COBRE for Skeletal Health and Repair, Cartilage Tissue Engineering for Joint Repair
2007-2012
The goal of this research is to elucidate cartilage tissue engineering strategies for joint repair by optimizing biochemical and biophysical microenvironment that promotes chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation.

W81XWH-07-1-0689 Department of Defense
Principal Investigator
Virtual Reality and Motion Analysis to Characterize Disabilities in Lower Limb Injury
$849,000
2009-2011
This project will test the hypothesis that the VENLab can characterize gait and movement disabilities due to lower limb injury, and response to treatment in precise, quantitative and relevant ways.

Hermann Foundation
Nanotechnology in Tissue Engineering
Principal Investigator
$210,000
2007-2010
Support for nanotechnology and nanotextured scaffolds in tissue engineering of articular cartilage.

W81XWH-07-1-0689 Department of Defense
Principal Investigator
PTSD in Limb Trauma and Recovery
$937,000
2007-2009
Coordinated examination of post traumatic stress disorder and limb trauma in wounded Iraq veterans.

AstraZeneca
Principal Investigator
The Role of Bone Perfusion in the
Progression of Osteoarthritis: Identification of New Mechanisms and Pathways
$277,000
2007-2009
Quantitative studies of oxygen gradients and pressure in bone marrow edema determined by contrast-enhanced MR imaging.

NIH RO1 HL 073958
Site Principal Investigator
Functional Outcomes in Cardiovascular Patients Undergoing Surgical Hip Fracture Repair
$300,000
2003-2009
This is a multi-center study of the indications and results of blood transfusions after hip fractures to determine appropriate threshold levels and morbidity.

NIH K24 AR 02128
Principal Investigator
Identification and Treatment of Osteonecrosis of the Hip
$543,375
1999-2007
This grant developed patient-oriented research methods emphasizing coagulopathies in osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis after corticosteroid use. The benefits of early MRI screening of patients at risk of developing avascular necrosis was established.

EBI, LP
Principal Investigator
Determination of Dosimetry and Mechanism of PEMF
$2,200,000
1998-2007
This study determines dose effects of electrical exposure as one form of physico-chemical signaling in cartilage and bone formation. It studies the effect of electrical exposure on engineered chondrogenesis.

RI STAC RIRA2007-22
Principal Investigator
Virtual Immersive Environments and Motion Analysis for Advanced Rehabilitation
$200, 000
2007
Infrastructure support for establishment of gait laboratory.

Brown University Vice Presidential Research Seed Grant
Coinvestigator
Microsphere Based Drug Delivery Systems and Hydrogels for the Creation
of Cartilage Biocomposites – A Tissue Engineered Solution to Joint Damage
$93,920
2003
This grant facilitated collaborations between investigators and the Departments of Orthopedics and Bioengineering for the purpose of developing one stage cartilage biocomposite for purposes of transplantation. It utilized polymer-encapsulated growth factors to recapitulate developmental sequences.

NIH R13-AR 050033
Chair
Workshop Support Grant
$18,000
2003
Grant supported the AAOS annual workshop on "Physical Regulation of Skeletal Repair".

NASA
Chair
Workshop Support Grant
$15,000
2003
Grant supported the AAOS annual workshop on "Physical Regulation of Skeletal Repair".

Whitaker Foundation
Chair
Conference Support Grant
$5,000
2003
Grant supported the AAOS annual workshop on "Physical Regulation of Skeletal Repair".

AAOS Corporate Relations Advisory Group
Chair
Workshop Sponsorship
$55,000
2003
Grant supported the AAOS annual workshop on "Physical Regulation of Skeletal Repair".

Orthologic
Coinvestigator
Effects of Chrysalin on Chondrogenic Differentiation of Synovial Cells
$55,939
2003
This grant funded studies on a novel thrombin peptide for its ability to induce chondrogenic differentiation of synovial cells.

Aircast Foundation-S700
Coinvestigator
Stimulation of Chondrogenic Differentiation by Polymer-Encapsulated Growth Factors
$100,000
2000-2003
The goal of this grant is to develop methods for the temporal and spatial release of growth factors to mimic developmental sequence and to stimulate differentiation of precursor cells to chondrocytes.

NIH R01 ES 074042
Principal Investigator
EMF and Early Bone Development
$1,126,077
1995-1999
These studies investigated the role of electric and magnetic field exposure as a signaling mechanism stimulating cartilage repair.

Whitaker Foundation
Collaborating Investigator
Modulation of Cell Cycle Growth, Control and Differentiation in a Connective Tissue System by Magnetic and Electric Fields
$180,000
1995-1998
These studies explored electric and magnetic field effects on chondrocyte differentiation.

Fetzer Institute 852
Principal Investigator
The Stimulation of Chondrogenesis by Electromagnetic Fields
$140,000
1994-1996
These studies explored electric and magnetic field effects on chondrocyte differentiation.

NIH R15 AR 40382
Coinvestigator
Hyperbaric O2 on Experimental Endochondral Ossification
$107,036
1990-1993
Oxygen gradients above the physiologic level were investigated for their effects on cell differentiation in endochondral bone formation.

View My Full Publication List in pdf format

Selected Publications

• Bilgen B, Y. Ren, M. Pei, R.K. Aaron, D. McK. Ciombor. CD14-Negative isolation enhances chondrogenesis in synovial fibroblasts. Tissue Eng. 15: 3261-3270; 2009.(2009)
• Lee, J.H., J. Dyke, D. Ballon, D. McK. Ciombor, M. Rosenwasser, R.K. Aaron. Subchondral fluid dynamics in a model of osteoarthritis: Use of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 17: 1350-1355; 2009.(2009)
• Lee, J.H., J. Dyke, D. Ballon, D. McK. Ciombor, G. Tung, R.K. Aaron. Assessment of bone perfusion with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Ortho Clin N Am. 40: 249-257; 2009.(2009)
• Covey, D. C. Born, R.K. Aaron, D. McK. Ciombor, et. al. Regenerative and restorative techniques to treat severe limb trauma orthopaedic war injuries: New developments in treatments and research. AAOS Instructional Course Lectures. 58: 117-129; 2009.(2009)
• Jaklenec A, A. Hinckfuss, B. Bilgen, D. McK. Ciombor, R.K. Aaron, E. Mathiowitz. Sequential release of bioactive IGF-I and TGF-beta(1) from PLGA microsphere-based scaffolds. Biomaterials.10:1518-25; 2008.(2008)
• Covey, D. R.K. Aaron, C. Born, J. Calhoun, T. Einhorn, H. Frisch, L. Levin, M. Mazurek, E. Schwartz, J. Wenke, E. Powell. Orthopaedic war injuries from combat casualty care to definitive treatment: a current review of the basic science, clinical advances and research opportunities. AAOS Instructional Course Lectures. 57: 65; 2008.(2008)
• Aaron, R.K., J. Dyke, D. McK. Ciombor, D. Ballon, J. Lee, E. Jung, G. Tung Perfusion abnormalities in subchondral bone association with marrow edema, osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 117: 124-137; 2007.(2007)
• Aaron, R.K. and D. McK. Ciombor. Orthopaedic complications of solid organ transplantation. Surg. Clin. North America. 86: 1237-1255; 2006.(2006)
• Aaron, R.K. and R. Gray. Osteonecrosis: Etiology, Natural History, Pathophysiology and Diagnosis. In: The Adult Hip, 2nd edition. Eds: J. Callaghan, A. Rosenberg, and H. Rubash. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA. v.1 pg 463-476; 2006.(2006)
• Aaron, R.K., H. Herr, D. McK. Ciombor, L. Hochberg, J. Donoghue, C. Briant, J. Morgan, M. Ehrlich. Horizons in prosthetic development for restoration of limb function. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 14: S198-204: 2006(2006)
• Paek, H.J., A.B. Campaner, J.L. Kem, L. Golden, R.K. Aaron, D. McK. Ciombor, J. Morgan, M. Lysaght. Microencapsulated cells genetically modified to overexpress human transforming growth factor-beta1: viability and functionality in allogeneic and xenogeneic implant models. Tissue Engin. 12(7): 1733-9; 2006(2006)
• Aaron, R.K., D. McK. Ciombor, S. Wang. Clinical biophysics: The promotion of skeletal repair by physical forces. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1068: 513-531; 2006(2006)
• Aaron, R.K., A. Skolnick, S. Reinert, D. McK. Ciombor. Arthroscopic debridement for osteoarthritis of the knee. J. Bone Joint Surg. 88A: 936-943; 2006(2006)
• Ciombor, D. McK., A Jaklenec, A. Liu, C. Thanos, N. Rahman, P.Weston, R. Aaron, E. Mathiowitz. Encapsulation of BSA using a W/O/O emulsion solvent removal method. J. Microencap. 23 (2): 183-194; 2006(2006)
• Paek, H.J., A.B. Campaner, J.L. Kim, R.K. Aaron, D. Ciombor, J. Morgan, M. Lysaght. In-vitro characterization of TGFβ1 release from genetically modified fibroblasts in calcium alginate microcapsules. ASAIO. 51: 379-384, 2005.(2005)
• Aaron, R.K. and M. Bolander (eds.). Physical Regulation of Skeletal Repair. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Chicago, IL. 2005.(2005)
• Ciombor, D. McK., R.K. Aaron, S. Wang, and B. Simon. Modification of osteoarthritis in the guinea pig – A morphological study. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 11: 455-462; 2003.(2003)
• Lieberman, J., D. Berry, M. Mont, R.K. Aaron, et al. Osteonecrosis of the hip: Management in the 21st century. J. Bone Joint Surg. 84: 834-853; 2002.(2002)
• Aaron, R.K., S. Wang, and D. McK. Ciombor. Upregulation of basal TGF beta levels coincident with chondrogenesis. Implications for skeletal repair and tissue engineering. J. Orthop. Res. 20: 233-240; 2002.(2002)