The Institute of Orthopedics at The Second Norman Bethune Hospital of Jilin University was established and developed to build an early brand in the field of precision medicine for the prevention and treatment of major orthopedic diseases at Jilin University, and to fully leverage the university’s interdisciplinary strengths, complementary advantages, and collaborative innovation resources. Founded in October 2013, the institute brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts in orthopedics, clinical molecular diagnostics, molecular biology, and other related fields. It has a permanent staff of 10, all of whom hold doctoral degrees, with 80% having studied abroad at prestigious international universities for over a year. More than 10 members currently serve as executive directors, vice chairpersons, or committee members in national first-, second-, and third-level academic societies.
The institute has established long-term collaborations with internationally renowned orthopedic expert teams from the United States, Canada, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and other countries and regions, building a strong foundation for achieving its development goals both internally and externally. It has been recognized as the "Jilin Provincial Engineering Research Center for Cellular and Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment of Metabolic Bone Diseases," approved by the Jilin Provincial Development and Reform Commission.
The institute focuses on cutting-edge scientific advancements in orthopedics worldwide, aiming to build a precision medicine transformation platform for major orthopedic diseases and a training base for high-level talent. It integrates high-throughput screening technologies such as genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics into mainstream innovation, aligning its four distinct and transformative research directions with leading international standards:
Advantages in Developing Molecular Diagnostic Technologies for Precision Medicine in Major Orthopedic Diseases
High-throughput screening technologies are used to identify key signaling pathways and molecular targets involved in the development of major orthopedic diseases such as osteonecrosis of the femoral head, osteoarthritis, and spinal cord injuries. Large-sample case-control studies elucidate the intrinsic relationships between molecular genetics, gene function, and clinical phenotypes, leading to the pioneering identification of multiple molecular targets for the precision prevention and treatment of complex orthopedic diseases. This work lays a critical foundation for establishing molecular early warning systems, clinical molecular diagnostics, and molecular typing systems for major orthopedic diseases.
Innovative Cell-Based Therapies for Complex Orthopedic Diseases
The institute incorporates advanced international cell therapy technologies and independently develops standardized, safe, and effective autologous stem cell and PRP treatment protocols. This includes researching regulatory factors for the differentiation of stem cells from various tissue sources in terms of quantity and phenotype, establishing a key foundation for building a brand effect in the treatment of complex orthopedic diseases at Jilin University.
3D Printing Technology for Refractory Bone Defects, Aligned with International Leading Standards
Leveraging collaborative innovation between clinical orthopedics and computer software development, the institute has overcome multiple challenges in the 3D reconstruction of complex bone defects caused by diseases such as tumors. It has achieved five world-firsts in the use of 3D-printed bone implants for repairing complex bone defects. These innovative achievements have been reported by domestic and international news outlets such as CCTV and China National Radio, showcasing Jilin University’s strengths and brand effect in tackling refractory orthopedic diseases.
Collaborative Development of Novel Orthopedic Implant Materials with Leading Research Institutions
To enhance the competitive advantage in developing new orthopedic materials, the institute collaborates with research teams such as those of Professors Yang Wensheng and Yu Jihong from the College of Chemistry at Jilin University and Professor Chen from the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Together, they develop novel smart orthopedic materials, including antibacterial nano-silver molecular sieves and multi-color fluorescent-encoded microsphere probe markers. The collaboration has resulted in the publication of several high-impact SCI papers and the application of over 10 national invention patents, demonstrating the institute’s research strengths in this emerging field.
The Institute of Orthopedics adheres to an innovation-driven research approach. Over the past four years, it has undertaken six National Natural Science Foundation projects, one Ministry of Education research fund project, 10 projects from the Jilin Provincial Department of Science and Technology, five projects from the Jilin Provincial Development and Reform Commission, six projects from the Jilin Provincial Health Department, two projects from the Jilin Provincial Department of Personnel, two projects from the Changchun Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, and two innovation fund projects from Jilin University. The total vertical research funding amounts to over 6 million RMB, with horizontal funding of 25.7524 million RMB, bringing the cumulative research funding to over 31 million RMB. The institute has published over 200 research papers, including more than 80 SCI papers, with an average of 4.7 SCI papers per person. It has received five provincial/ministerial-level Science and Technology Progress awards (second prize or above) and been granted over 30 patents.
To early establish a research platform for metabolic bone diseases aligned with international leading standards, The Second Norman Bethune Hospital of Jilin University has provided significant support for the discipline’s development. Over the past four years, more than 30 million RMB has been invested in building and systematically equipping five laboratories:
Precision Medicine Clinical Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory
Stem Cell Therapy for Complex Bone Diseases
3D Printing Technology Bone Implant Materials R&D Center
Bone Biomechanics Laboratory
Standardized Bone Bank
The institute has purchased over 100 pieces of equipment, including first- and second-generation sequencers, fully automated fluorescent quantitative PCR systems, digital PCR systems, and 3D printers, with a total value of 20 million RMB. These state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, built to meet the demands of precision medicine molecular diagnostics, form a comprehensive precision medicine research center capable of synchronous analysis at the in vivo and in vitro, morphological and functional, and tissue and cellular molecular levels. This establishes an advanced platform for precision medicine research and development in metabolic bone diseases at Jilin University.
