The University of Iowa Orthopedic Research Biobank (UI-ORB) is a world-class orthopedic biorepository of musculoskeletal patient specimens with associated clinically relevant patient outcomes. Our mission is to accelerate the discovery of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets through high-dimensional data integration, driving innovation in orthopedics, and improving patient’s pain and restoring function. 

Strategic Goals

• Longitudinal Biological Excellence
  • Ensure that Iowa Orthopedic researchers have immediate access to rare and common musculoskeletal pathologies without the lead time of recruitment.
• Multiomic Data Integration
  • To establish a "Digital Twin" framework for every physical sample, layering molecular data onto patient demographics and imaging data to facilitate the discovery of novel biomarkers.
• AI-Driven Discovery and Translation
  • Deploy machine learning models and artificial intelligence that identifies non-obvious correlations between molecular signatures and clinical outcomes and failure rates for pathologies and surgeries
• Collaborative Network Expansion
  • Serve as a regional and national hub for orthopedic innovation, fostering partnerships between the University of Iowa, industry leaders, and federal agencies (NIH/DOD).