A Common Purpose: Inside CORI’s Inaugural Research Meeting

On 16 June 2025, CORI held its inaugural meeting at Ardmore House in UCD. The half day event brought together a focused group of physicians (both human and animal), engineers, statisticians, and patient partners to establish shared goals and define early priorities for the new centre.

CORI Co-Directors Professors Niamh Nowlan and Connor Green opened the morning by outlining the centre’s mission: to improve outcomes in paediatric orthopaedics through collaborative, translational research that integrates clinical, scientific, and engineering expertise.

To build a sense of common purpose, the morning began with a roundtable introduction session. Each member briefly introduced their background, interests, and current work which surfaced overlapping areas of expertise and clear opportunities for collaboration.

A keynote address followed from Dr Philip McClure, Director of the International Center for Limb Lengthening at the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopaedics in Baltimore. He shared practical insights from building a leading limb reconstruction programme, with particular emphasis on how structured innovation and multidisciplinary teamwork can improve surgical outcomes and patient care.

The core of the meeting consisted of a series of research presentations by CORI investigators and collaborators. Topics included:

• Hip morphology (Prof Connor Green and Dr Siobhán Hoare)
• Translational biomechanics using animal models (Dr Jorge Espinel Ruperez, Dr Marie-Pauline Maurin and Dr Mariam Mtchedlishvili)
• Paediatric bone endocrinology (Dr Ciara McDonnell)
• Medical device design and a novel guided growth implant (Dr Eoin O Cearbhaill and Mr Páraic Ó Ciaruáin)
• Prognostic modelling in Perthes disease (Ms Hannah Kane and Prof Niamh Nowlan)

Each presentation was followed by short, engaged discussions. Contributions from across disciplines including clinical, technical, and public involvement perspectives underscored the collaborative model CORI intends to foster.

As the formal session drew to a close, attention turned to how best to support early-stage projects and maintain momentum. A working lunch offered space for informal conversations, where participants began exploring concrete ways to align their efforts. The day concluded with a sense of energy, purpose, and a shared recognition that meaningful progress will rely on continued dialogue and collaboration.

The meeting marked an important step in shaping CORI’s research agenda. It surfaced clear priorities, seeded new collaborations, and confirmed the value of early engagement across disciplines. Building on this momentum, CORI will continue to develop a translational research programme focused on improving outcomes in paediatric musculoskeletal care.

By Páraic Ó Ciaruáin