The Joint Effort: Advancing Musculoskeletal Care Through Collaboration Between Industry, Clinicians, and Researchers

The goal of musculoskeletal research is to translate scientific innovations from basic science to bedside applications. This process requires substantial investments in research and development, regulatory approvals, manufacturing, and commercialization of orthopaedic devices and solutions. Since 2020, less than 2% of annual National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards have supported musculoskeletal research. Limited public funding and institutional resources have driven clinicians and researchers to seek alternative partnerships. The orthopaedic industry frequently collaborates with clinician scientists to develop evidence demonstrating the safety, efficacy, and clinical benefits of products. Partnerships are generally classified as either “industry-initiated research” or “investigator-initiated research,” with the initiating party determining the idea, study design, and data analysis. Funding, operational support, and oversight vary accordingly. Industry partners can provide financial and operational resources, while researchers contribute scientific expertise, fostering effective collaboration and execution of various preclinical and clinical studies. Successful collaboration requires navigating potential hurdles. Key considerations include selecting partners with aligned goals, mitigating perceived bias, managing conflicts of interest, clarifying data ownership and reporting responsibilities, determining publications or licensing rights, and understanding legal and compliance requirements. The purpose of this study is to provide practical insights for overcoming these barriers. By fostering strategic industry–academic collaborations, researchers can identify actionable approaches for securing support. Strengthening these partnerships for both basic science and clinical studies offers the potential to drive translational and applied research, address unmet clinical needs, and advance musculoskeletal care.