Raymond Purves Bone & Joint Research Laboratory

The Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratory leads Australia in research into some of the key musculoskeletal diseases affecting our population. This includes osteoarthritis, tendon injury and intervertebral disc degeneration.

There is currently no cure for these common, chronic disabling conditions and long-term management options are limited. It is only through a better understanding of the disease and tissue breakdown, that we will be able to develop therapies to modify the conditions.

The Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratory team is well placed to improve the health of patients with musculoskeletal disease. We are located alongside Royal North Shore Hospital and have developed close relationships with orthopaedic surgeons and rheumatologists at the hospital. This means our latest research developments can be efficiently incorporated into future clinical care.


Professor Christopher Little Professor Christopher Little

Director Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Labs
Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Northern Clinical School
Kolling Institute
Institute of Bone & Joint Research
Member of the Charles Perkins Centre

 Dr Jiao Jiao Li

Honorary Associate

 Dr Cindy Shu

Postdoctoral Scientist

 A/Professor Sanaa Zaki

Postdoctoral Scientist

Dr James Melrose

Honorary Senior Research Fellow

Daniel Burkhardt - Research Officer 

Susan Smith - Technical Officer

Jiarong (Devina) Li – PhD Student

Harrison Johansen - Honours Student

Kate Hoare - Honours Student

Sidharth Aravind - PhD Student

Ye (Janey) Zhang - Visiting Researcher

Roshana Vander Wall - Research Assistant

Jiaqi (Yancy) Chen - Honours Student 

Zhiyu Mu - Masters Student

Sofia Drakoulis - Honours Student

Thai Khang (Ken) Hy - PhD Student

Developing regenerative therapies for osteoarthritis – To investigate the interactions between stem cells and diseased joint cells, and build on this knowledge to develop new ways of treating osteoarthritis

Developing new implants for musculoskeletal tissue repair – To develop and test tissue engineered methods of repairing musculoskeletal tissues including bones and joints

Raymond Purves Bone & Joint Research Laboratory related information

Events, News and Seminars

Changing of the guard

Changing of the guard

After more than 25 years leading visionary research, Professor Ian Cameron has stepped down as the h..... Read more

Category: Musculoskeletal Research, Neuroscience and Pain Research, Research Excellence

Kolling Institute Year in Review
Researchers helping those with osteoarthritis weave more exercise into their day

Researchers helping those with osteoarthritis weave more exercise into their day

Our researchers at the Kolling Institute are leading a national clinical trial to support people wit..... Read more

Category: Musculoskeletal Research, New Treatment, Research Excellence