OrthoCarolina Research Institute

What OrthoCarolina Research Institute does

OrthoCarolina Research Institute (OCRI) is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) research organization founded in 2008 and headquartered at 2001 Vail Avenue, Suite 300, Charlotte, NC. The institute operates as both an academic research center and a clinical research site, drawing on more than 100 physician-researchers from its affiliated physician practice, OrthoCarolina, PA, to conduct FDA-regulated clinical trials (IDEs, INDs, post-market studies) and investigator-initiated outcomes research across six orthopedic subspecialties: Foot & Ankle, Hand & Wrist, Hip & Knee, Pediatrics, Spine, and Sports Medicine. Its signature initiative is the CORE (Carolinas Opioid Reduction Effort) Project, a validated opioid-free surgery protocol published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery and embedded in Epic MyChart, alongside novel clinical programs such as the Starfish Procedure for upper extremity amputees and the Reconstructive Center for Lost Limbs. The organization maintains nearly 300 active studies at any given time and runs 20+ FDA clinical trials and 100+ clinical outcomes studies annually.

OCRI's business model is a hybrid nonprofit funding structure. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: charitable donations from individuals and corporate partners (100% reinvested in research), multi-year research grants — most notably over $1 million across three grants from The Duke Endowment supporting the CORE Project — and industry-sponsored clinical trial contracts. OCRI does not charge patients for research participation; its only direct paid offering is the annual Oscar Miller Day Research Symposium, which charges a $150 registration fee. The institute serves multiple customer constituencies: orthopedic patients receiving care through participating studies, regional healthcare systems (Atrium Health, Novant Health, Charlotte Surgery Center) collaborating on multi-site research, medical device and pharmaceutical industry sponsors, medical students and fellows (through partnerships with Davidson College, UNCC, and residency programs), and individual donors.

The institute is governed by a Board of Directors and a Research Advisory Committee, with Christi T. Cadd, MBA, serving as Executive Director. OCRI maintains academic and clinical partnerships with Davidson College, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Atrium Health, Novant Health, and international collaborators including British Columbia Orthopedics and Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden. Its research is distributed through peer-reviewed publications, presentations at major orthopedic conferences (AAOS, AOFAS, ASSH, POSNA, AAHKS, CSRS), the annual Oscar Miller Day symposium, and the dedicated opioidreduction.com and orthocarolinaresearch.org websites. The organization has received regional and international recognition, including two 2025 Charlotte Business Journal Health Care Heroes awards and a 2023 top prize at the Cervical Spine Research Society for its opioid-free surgery research.

Name

OrthoCarolina Research Institute

Legal name

OrthoCarolina Research Institute, Inc.

Website

https://orthocarolinaresearch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OrthoCarolina Research Institute is an independent nonprofit research organization affiliated with OrthoCarolina, PA, conducting FDA-regulated clinical trials, outcomes research, and opioid-free surgery protocols across six orthopedic subspecialties to serve patients, healthcare systems, and industry sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Orthopedic Clinical Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical Trial Site Operations & Study Coordination (HLAGACAE)

Keywords

• Orthopedic clinical research
• Musculoskeletal research studies
• FDA clinical trials
• Opioid reduction research
• Prosthetic limb research

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization (Tax ID: 01-0648145), OCRI relies on donations from individuals, patients honoring physicians, and corporate partners. 100% of donations are invested in orthopedic research.
2. Research Grants: OCRI receives multi-year research grants, including funding from The Duke Endowment (over $1 million across three grants) to support the CORE Project for opioid reduction research.
3. Clinical Trials and Industry Research: OCRI participates in industry-sponsored clinical trials regulated by the FDA, including Investigational Device Exemptions (IDEs), Investigational New Drugs (IND), and post-market studies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

OCRI operates as both an academic research center and clinical research site, conducting physician-initiated research and FDA-regulated clinical trials (IDEs, INDs, post-market studies) across six orthopedic subspecialties: Foot & Ankle, Hand & Wrist, Hip & Knee, Pediatrics, Spine, and Sports Medicine. The organization conducts 20+ FDA clinical trials and over 100 clinical outcomes studies annually, with key initiatives including the CORE Project (opioid-free surgery protocols) and the Reconstructive Center for Lost Limbs.

Product overview

OrthoCarolina Research Institute (OCRI) is an independent, non-profit 501(c)3 research organization that operates as both an academic research center and clinical research site servicing industry research. The organization offers a unified portfolio of orthopedic research services and programs including Physician Initiated Research and Clinical Trials Research, supported by six subspecialty research divisions (Foot & Ankle, Hand & Wrist, Hip & Knee, Pediatrics, Spine, and Sports Medicine). Key branded initiatives include the CORE Project (Carolinas Opioid Reduction Effort) focused on opioid-free surgery protocols, the Davidson Intern Program for medical education, the annual Oscar Miller Day Symposium for continuing medical education, and the Reconstructive Center for Lost Limbs offering innovative surgical techniques like the Starfish Procedure. OCRI conducts 20-plus FDA clinical trials and over 100 clinical outcomes studies annually, with a unique business model allowing Physician Researchers to blend academic research into daily patient practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CORE (Carolinas Opioid Reduction Effort): A pioneering initiative to reduce opioid use in surgical recovery by providing opioid-minimizing pain management options for orthopedic surgery patients.

Products and services

• Clinical Trials Research OCRI participates in FDA-regulated studies including Investigational Device Exemptions (IDEs), Investigational New Drugs (IND), and post-market studies, conducting 20+ FDA clinical trials and over 100 clinical outcomes studies each year. This service is offered to medical device and pharmaceutical industry sponsors seeking orthopedic clinical trial sites.
• Physician Initiated Research OCRI's Scientific Studies and Outcomes Research conducts research on post-market drugs and devices, new surgical techniques, non-operative treatments, and economic analysis to understand end results of particular healthcare practices and interventions. Physician researchers blend academic research into daily patient practice.
• CORE Project (Carolinas Opioid Reduction Effort) A groundbreaking clinical trial and prevention initiative focused on reducing opioid use in surgical recovery through opioid-free pain management protocols. The project offers patients opioid-minimizing recovery options across multiple orthopedic subspecialties including Foot & Ankle, Hand, Hip & Knee, Spine, and Sports Medicine. Validated as safe and effective and published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
• Foot & Ankle Research Clinical research studies conducted with OrthoCarolina's Foot & Ankle Institute, covering cases ranging from bunions to high-energy trauma injuries like calcaneus fractures, including studies on total ankle arthroplasty, cheilectomy, and fibular sesamoidectomy. Foot & Ankle surgeons have authored 232+ peer-reviewed scientific articles and 68+ book chapters.
• Hand & Wrist Research Research collaboration with the OrthoCarolina Hand Center including studies on traumatic nerve injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis, brachial plexus clinic, and amputation clinic research.
• Hip & Knee Research Research initiatives focused on partial and total joint surgical procedures, implant adequacy and survivorship, patient outcomes, and Periprosthetic Joint Infections (PJI), including a national OREF Grant study on One-Stage versus Two-Stage PJI. The Hip & Knee Center surgeons have 126 years combined total joint replacement experience.
• Pediatrics Research Pediatric orthopedic research aimed at advancing treatments for young patients, conducted with the OrthoCarolina Pediatric Center, including treatment for conditions like club feet, congenital abnormalities, and pediatric orthopedic trauma.
• Spine Research Academic and clinical spine research including studies on devices and surgical techniques, providing patients access to cutting-edge products not readily available to the general public. OCRI's opioid-free surgery research (CORE Project) won top prize at the 2023 Cervical Spine Research Society international spine conference.
• Sports Medicine Research Research focused on evaluating surgical techniques, understanding various injuries (including pickleball-related Achilles ruptures), utilizing cutting-edge devices and products, and long-term patient experience follow-up in the Sports Medicine and Shoulder & Elbow Center. The center performs 1866 surgeries annually including 271 total/reverse total shoulders.
• Oscar Miller Day Symposium Annual educational symposium providing quality educational opportunities to orthopedic surgeons and related healthcare professionals, featuring different orthopedic subspecialty topics each year. Charges a $150 registration fee. Includes the Basil M. Boyd Resident Research Award ($1,000) established in 1985 in honor of Dr. Basil Boyd's passion for research.
• Reconstructive Center for Lost Limbs (RCLL) A multi-disciplinary collaborative clinic helping upper extremity amputees with the latest surgical innovations, offering patients access to medical doctors, prosthetists, PTSD/depression screening, and on-site psychological support in one visit. Features the Starfish Procedure surgical technique.
• Starfish Procedure A groundbreaking surgical technique that allows upper extremity amputee patients the ability to control individual fingers on a myoelectric prosthetic hand through brain signals. Pioneered by Dr. Gaston and Dr. Loeffler. Research finding also demonstrated that people born without a hand have the brain functionality to control prosthetic devices without surgery.

Quantifiable outcome

• 52% of patients have opted to reduce or eliminate opioids since November 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Atrium HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare system partner for clinical research collaboration. Atrium Health/Orthopedic Resident Research and Department of Orthopedic Research divisions work with OCRI on outcomes studies and clinical trials. OCRI Research Advisory Committee member Dr. Joshua Patt is from Atrium Health.
• Novant HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner collaborating on CORE Project research for opioid-free surgery protocols and outcomes tracking across healthcare systems.
• Charlotte Surgery CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSurgical facility partner in the CORE Project study that standardized non-opioid protocols for one year, published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
• Davidson CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership offering the Davidson Internship Program where four students annually participate in an Independent Study program 'Research in Biology I: Evaluation of Outcomes of Surgical Interventions in Select Musculoskeletal Disorders' providing hands-on learning for future doctors and clinical specialists.
• UNCC (University of North Carolina at Charlotte)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration with UNCC Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science, and College of Health and Human Services for interdisciplinary research in orthopedic biomechanics and patient care.
• Nth DimensionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram focused on increasing gender, racial, and ethnic diversity in orthopedics through educational initiatives and mentorship.
• Epic SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration of CORE Project patient education tools with Epic MyChart electronic medical records system, the most widely used EMR globally, allowing patients to opt-in to learn about opioid-minimizing options before surgery.
• British Columbia OrthopedicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational multi-center research partner in investigator-initiated studies.
• Uppsala University Hospital (Sweden)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational multi-center research partner in investigator-initiated studies.
• OrthoCarolina, PAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent physician practice providing 100+ orthopedic physicians who serve as physician researchers for OCRI studies. OCRI is the nonprofit research partner of OrthoCarolina, PA.
• Atrium Health Cannon Research CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch center collaboration for orthopedic clinical research and outcomes studies.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hospital for Special Surgery: Largest U.S. specialty hospital dedicated to orthopedics and rheumatology, with major research enterprise running hundreds of clinical trials and outcomes studies. Overlaps OCRI in orthopedic clinical research but operates at much larger scale and as a hospital system.
• Cleveland Clinic Orthopaedic Research: Large health system orthopedic research enterprise with deep NIH funding and subspecialty breadth. Competes with OCRI for industry-sponsored trials but operates at substantially greater scale and resource base.
• Thomas Jefferson Orthopaedic Research / Rothman Institute at Jefferson: Academic orthopedic research division within a major medical university system, conducting FDA trials, outcomes research, and resident research — overlapping with OCRI's subspecialty structure.

Direct peers

• Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush Research Unit: Academic-affiliated orthopedic research program running clinical trials and outcomes research across subspecialties. Comparable in physician-researcher integration and trial throughput to OCRI.
• Andrews Research & Education Foundation: Nonprofit sports medicine research and education foundation affiliated with the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, FL. Closely comparable physician-researcher model, sports medicine focus, and outcomes study portfolio.
• Steadman Philippon Research Institute: Independent, nonprofit orthopedic research institute focused on clinical outcomes and sports medicine research in Vail, CO. Most directly comparable to OCRI in mission, funding model (philanthropy + industry trials), and orthopedic subspecialty focus.
• Hughston Foundation: Nonprofit orthopedic research and education foundation historically focused on sports medicine and trauma. Shares OCRI's nonprofit, physician-driven research and education mission.
• Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Research Foundation: Large orthopedic specialty practice with affiliated research arm running FDA-regulated trials, outcomes studies, and physician-initiated research — closely matching OCRI's physician-practice-affiliated research site model.

Emerging players

• Advarra (formerly IntegReview): Independent IRB and clinical research services provider supporting orthopedic and device trials. Adjacent to OCRI's clinical trial site operations but operating as a service vendor rather than research site.

Others

• American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) Research Network: Professional society supporting multi-center orthopedic sports medicine research. Indirectly comparable as an enabling/ecosystem organization that convenes orthopedic clinical research at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OCResearchInst

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about OrthoCarolina Research Institute