For Information about the Orthopaedic Research Center Graduate Program, contact:
Chris E. Kawcak DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS
email: ckawcak@lamar.colostate.edu

The Orthopaedic Research Center (ORC) was originally started by Dr. C. Wayne McIlwraith as a means of disseminating information from clinical orthopedic patients. Beginning in the early 1990's, the laboratory took on a more experimental component, and now houses clinical, imaging, biochemical, molecular biological and biomechanical components. Because of this, Graduate Studies are offered at both the Masters and the PhD level in a wide range of disciplines. Research projects in the laboratory include investigations into the causes of various joint diseases, evaluation of various joint therapies, (including corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, sulfated glycosaminoglycans, gene therapy and various cartilage healing techniques), and evaluation of the latest diagnostic techniques to better characterize joint disease.

GRADUATE STUDENT PHILOSOPHY

Graduate students in the ORC are from a variety of backgrounds. It is not a prerequisite to be a DVM to be entered in this program. However, students with very strong basic sciences laboratory experience are preferred. Postdoctoral researchers have also been involved with the program. Consequently the desires of each student differ greatly within the program. The students generally rely on service work in the first year, during which they write grants to acquire funding for their projects for the second and third years. The investigators feel that it is important for a graduate student, especially a PhD student, to graduate from the program with an ability to perform modern-day research. This includes not only the ability to design and perform research projects, but also the capability to acquire funding. In today's world, the ability to acquire funding is an essential skill for a successful researcher. Consequently, the student is expected to write a competitive research grant during this program to demonstrate his or her ability to acquire funding.

Faculty: Dr. McIlwraith is the director of the laboratory. Below him are the three main investigators in the laboratory. Dr. David D. Frisbie is the laboratory manager, and has research experience in the areas of cartilage healing and gene therapy. Dr. Christopher E. Kawcak is the graduate student coordinator, and has research experience in imaging techniques and osteochondral response to exercise and disease. Dr. John Kisiday's research focuses on cartilage tissue engineering therapies and mechanobiology. Dr. Natasha Werpy runs the Equine MRI Center.

ORC Collaborators: Personnel from the Biomedical Engineering Program, namely Sue James and Christian Puttlizt, also collaborate in the ORC. Not only are their laboratories within the same building, they also participate in research projects and supervision of graduate students. It is very common for interdisciplinary studies and graduate research to be coordinated within the group. Dr. Robert W. Norrdin, a pathologist in the Department of Pathology, also collaborates with the researchers and also collaborates on graduate student research.

Outside collaborators to the ORC include Drs. Richard Steadman, Bill Rodkey and Mike Torrey from the Steadman-Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation in Vail, Colorado; Drs. Marcus Pandy and Nick Brown from the Biomedical Engineering Department at The University of Texas-Austin; Dr. Raoul Reiser in the Health and Exercise Science Department at Colorado State University; Dr. Robert Sah from the Cartilage Tissue Engineering Laboratory at The University of San Diego; Drs. Chris Evans and Steve Ghivizzani at Harvard, and Dr. Paul Robbins at the University of Pittsburgh. Researchers in the ORC are also part of the Global Equine Research Alliance, which includes Drs. Elwyn Firth and Chris Rogers from Massey University in New Zealand, Drs. Rene VanWeren and Ab Barneveld from the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, and Drs. Roger Smith and Allen Goodship from the University of London, and Dr. Neil Broome at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. Because of this large list of collaborators, graduate research has been coordinated among several groups.

GRADUATE SCHOOL INFORMATION
General graduate school information at Colorado State University can be found at: http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Grad/

DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL SCIENCES REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
The ORC is in the Department of Clinical Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University, and students in the ORC fall under the guidelines of the Department. However, students from an outside department, such as Engineering, occasionally work with ORC faculty, but must adhere to Graduate Student requirements in those departments. The following is a list of requirements for graduate study in the Department of Clinical Sciences.

DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL SCIENCES MASTER OF SCIENCE
GRADUATE STUDENT POLICY
You can get more information at http://wwws.cvmbs.colostate.edu/clinsci/grad-ms2006.pdf.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Interested applicants should write for appropriate application information from both the Graduate School, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1005, and the Department Head, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1678.

In addition to the completed CSU application (GS Form 1) and application fee, which are to be sent to the Graduate School, the candidate's application to the Department of Clinical Sciences must include:

a. The pink copy of the completed graduate application form (GS Form 1)
b. Two official transcripts of all credits earned previously
c. A biographical statement including interests and goals
d. At least three letters of recommendation

All graduate programs of the Department of Clinical Sciences must meet the minimum requirements of the Colorado State University Graduate School. The entire application should be sent to the Department Head, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1678. It should be received no later than six months before registration for the term in which studies are to begin.

All applicants must have a test score from the aptitude portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admissions test. This must have been taken within the last five years or else it will need to be retaken since records are only kept on file for five years. The scores are to be sent directly by the Education Testing Service to Colorado State University as part of the application into the Graduate School. In the event the GRE has not been taken when the student arrives at CSU, he or she must take it at the first opportunity it is offered.

International students must apply directly to the Graduate School, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1005 USA. The application must include:

a. A completed GS Form F-1
b. Application fee
c. An official transcript of all collegiate work completed along with a certified translation into English
d. Certified proof of financial support
e. Scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL score must be 550 or above
f. A biographical statement including interests and goals
g. At least three letters of recommendation

SELECTION OF GRADUATE (MS) STUDENTS

Faculty members from the appropriate sections review the applications and make their recommendations to the Department Head. Prior to final acceptance of the student, a faculty member must agree to serve as a temporary advisor. A letter including the advisor's acceptance of the student must be received by the Department Head prior to final acceptance of the student. The application must be reviewed and supported by the Resident/Graduate Committee of the Department of Clinical Sciences. The application in its final form must be reviewed and supported by the Department Head.

MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

MS students will be required to participate in course work which is applicable to their area of study. Involvement in a research project is mandatory. Clinical training will primarily be limited to development in those areas directly related to the student's research.

Individuals not enrolled in residency training programs in the Department of Clinical Sciences will be required to register for a Plan A (thesis) MS degree. The Plan A program requires the completion of course work, the completion of a research project in an area of the student's interest and the preparation of a written thesis. Publication resulting from work in the thesis is strongly encouraged. Under special circumstances, with the approval of the Department Head, a Plan B (non-thesis) degree may be approved. The student will be required to annually update a checklist of departmental program requirements. Each requirement on the checklist must be signed by the student's advisor upon completion. This checklist will be submitted to and reviewed by the department Resident Graduate Committee on an annual basis to ensure that each graduate student is making satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree. The Resident Graduate Committee may elect to meet with the graduate student or the student's advisor, or both, if the student is not completing requirements on an appropriate timetable.

DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL SCIENCES DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
GRADUATE STUDENT POLICY
You can get more information at http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/cvmbs/CurrentPVMStudentInfo.htm.

ELIGIBILITY

In most instances, applicants must hold a DVM degree or its equivalent medical degree and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in the last two years of graduate or professional courses prior to application. An MS degree is not required.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Interested persons should write to both of the following for appropriate application information:

The Graduate School, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523.

The Department Head, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523-1678.

In addition to the completed CSU application form (GS Form 1) and application fee which are to be sent to the graduate school, the candidate's application to the Department of Clinical Sciences must include:

1. The pink copy of the completed graduate application form (GS Form 1).
2. Two official transcripts of all credits previously earned.
3. A biographical statement including interests and goals.
4. At least three letters of recommendation.

The entire application should be received by the Department Head, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1678 no later than six months before registration for the term in which studies are anticipated to begin.

Foreign students must apply directly to the Graduate School, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA. The application must include:

1. A completed GS Form F1.
2. Application fee
3. An official transcript of all collegiate work completed along with a certified translation into English.
4. Certified proof of financial support.
5. Scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL score must be 550 or above.
6. A biographical statement including interest and goals
7. At least three letters of recommendation.

All graduate school applicants must have a GRE/GMAT score prior to acceptance into the PhD program. All graduate programs in the Department of Clinical Sciences must meet the minimum requirements of the CSU Graduate School.

SELECTION OF PhD GRADUATE STUDENTS

Appropriate faculty will review the applications and make their recommendations to the Department Head. Prior to final acceptance of a student:

1. A faculty member must agree to serve as an advisor. A letter indicating the advisor’s acceptance of the student and the necessary financial support for the student must be received by the Department Head prior to final acceptance of the student.
2. The application must be reviewed and supported by the Resident/Graduate Committee of the Department of Clinical Sciences.
3. The application in its final form must be reviewed and supported by the Department Head.

ACTIVITIES OF PhD STUDENTS

PhD students will be required to participate in course work which is applicable to their area of study. Involvement in a research project is mandatory. Clinical training will be limited to those areas directly related to the student's research.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The preparation of a dissertation is required. The dissertation is a formal written document which presents the results of sustained research or investigation of an important problem. The dissertation must represent independent intellectual achievement and must make an original meaningful contribution to the knowledge and accumulated wisdom of the field in which it is written.

Each student must complete a Program of Study (GS Form 6), a document that lists all courses which will be taken in pursuit of the degree. The advisor and the graduate committee should be closely involved in the development of the program of study and they must indicate approval by signature. The GS Form 6 is due in the Graduate School office before the end of the second term of study or after 12 credits have been completed. However, the student is encouraged to have the form completed as soon as possible after commencing the program. Students that fail to meet this requirement may be denied subsequent registration. Final approval from the Graduate School is required.

While this document (GS Form 6) is essential, it may be modified as needed. Modifications must be approved by the graduate committee and formally recorded with and approved by the Graduate School. Any changes are recorded on the GS Form 25 Application to Graduate. At the time of submission of the Program of Study (GS Form 6) to the Graduate School, a copy of this document and a written summary of the student's proposed research and tentative dates for preliminary and final examinations should be approved and signed by the advisor and given to the chairperson of the Resident/Graduate Committee of the Department of Clinical Sciences.

The student will be required to annually update a checklist of departmental program requirements. Each requirement on the checklist must be signed by the student's advisor upon completion. This checklist will be submitted to and reviewed by the departmental Resident Graduate Committee on an annual basis to ensure that each graduate student is making satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree. The Resident Graduate Committee may elect to meet with a graduate student or the student's advisor, or both, if the student is not completing requirements on an appropriate timetable.

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS

Postdoctoral training programs are periodically available in the ORC.

For Information about the Orthopaedic Research Center Graduate Program, contact: Chris E. Kawcak DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS
email: ckawcak@lamar.colostate.edu