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

Dr Margaret Smith

Honorary Research Fellow


Daniel Burkhardt - Research Officer

Yolanda Liu - Research Assistant

Susan Smith - Technical Officer

Dr Patrick Haubruck - PhD Student 

Jiarong (Devina) Li – PhD Student

Rosie Loneragan - Honours Student

Ryan Carson - Honours 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

Research questions the value of injectable medications for osteoarthritis

Research questions the value of injectable medications for osteoarthritis

Our researchers at the Kolling Institute are encouraging those with osteoarthritis to rely on treatm..... Read more

Category: Musculoskeletal Research, Research Excellence

Back pain cases to rise sharply

Back pain cases to rise sharply

A new study by researchers at the Kolling Institute estimates more than 800 million people will be l..... Read more

Category: Musculoskeletal Research

Researchers call for a greater focus on the physical impact of whiplash injuries

Researchers call for a greater focus on the physical impact of whiplash injuries

Researchers from the Kolling Institute have led an international study investigating why some people..... Read more

Category: Research Excellence, World-leading technology