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Francis Lee

MD, PhD, FAAOS, MBA
Wayne O. Southwick Professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation; Professor, Biomedical Engineering; Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; with Tenure in Traditional Track; Professor in Department of Pathology, Secondary Appointment; Biological and Biomedical Science Program, YSM Postgraduate School; Wayne O. Southwick Endowed Professor in Orthopedics and Rehabilitation; Presidential Line Officer (Treasurer in 2023-Secretary in 2024-President-Elect in 2025-President in 2026), Executive Committee

Contact Information

Francis Lee, MD, PhD, FAAOS, MBA

Office Location

Mailing Address

  • Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

    P.O. Box 208071

    New Haven, CT 06520-8071

    United States

Research Summary

Translational Musculoskeletal Research Programs (Tompkin 5 Orthopedic Translational Research Laboratory; Research Programs are supported by NIH and other research funding.)

  • Minimally Invasive Procedure for Metastatic Cancers to Bone; Ablation (Radiofreuqency, Microwave, Cryoablation); Percutaneous Cementoplasty; Spine, Pelvis, and Acetabular Fractures
  • Bone Defect Regeneration & ReconstructionInflammation: Biomaterials-Bone Interface Biology: Bio-implant related inflammation
  • Breast Cancer-Bone Interactions: Cancer-induced bone loss, Molecular imaging
  • Bone-Bacteria Interactions: Enhanced control of bone infection, Bone implant infection
  • Osteoclastogenesis; Novel regulators of osteoclastogenesis
  • Stem Cell, Tissue Engineering, Fracture Healing, and Tendon Regeneration
  • Fracture Healing
  • Bone Resorption
  • Orthopedic Translational Research
  • Sarcoma
  • Bone Metastasis
  • Orthobiologics
  • Orthopedics

Grants:

  • ERK Signaling in Inflammatory Bone Loss, NIH/NIAMS R01, PI: Francis Lee
  • Modification of Bone Grafts for Orthopaedic Procedures, NIH/NIAMS R01, PI: Francis Lee
  • Bone and Breast Cancer Molecular Interactions, NIH/NCI R01, PI: Francis Lee
  • Mechanobiological mechanism for inflammatory bone loss, NIH/NIBIB R01, PI: Francis Lee
  • Bio-Logical Modification of Structural Bone Allografts, Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation, PI: Francis Lee
  • Inflammation in Rotator Cuff Tear and Repair, NIH/NIAMS K08, PI: David Kovacevic, Mentor: Francis Lee

Extensive Research Description

Clinical Research

Bone Defect Reconstruction & Regeneration

Metastatic Cancers to Bone, Pathological Fractures, Minimally Invasive Reconstruction of Pathological Fractures, AORIF (Ablation - Osteoplasty - Reinforcement - Internal Fixation)

Translational Research

Tissue Engineering, Bone Regeneration, Fracture Healing (Diabetes, Chronic Smoking, Infection), Bone Inflammation, Bone Infection, Cancer-Induced Bone Loss

Please refer to NIH RePorter on Descriptions of NIH-funded Research Programs.

My research group is committed to engaging undergraduate students, Yale medical students for Thesis, M.D.-Ph.D. Students, other graduate students, and visiting fellows for research opportunities and career advancement. For inquires, please contact francis.lee@yale.edu. I am an Orthopaedic Surgeon in active clinical practice and a Scientist fostering research experience for future clinician scholars and clinically relevant translational research scientists. I focus on high impact orthopaedic research that is directly relevant to pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of Orthopaedic disorders.

Coauthors

Research Interests

Bone and Bones; Bone Diseases, Infectious; Bone Marrow; Fracture Fixation; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Orthopedics; Osteoarthritis; Osteoblasts; Osteoclasts; Stem Cells; Oncology Service, Hospital; Tissue Engineering

Research Images

Selected Publications