Current Appointments & Affiliations
James R. Urbaniak, M.D., Distinguished Professor of Orthopedic Surgery
·
2013 - Present
Orthopaedic Surgery,
Clinical Science Departments
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
·
2013 - Present
Orthopaedic Surgery,
Clinical Science Departments
Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery
·
2013 - Present
Orthopaedic Surgery,
Clinical Science Departments
Professor in Cell Biology
·
2014 - Present
Cell Biology,
Basic Science Departments
Professor in Pediatrics
·
2014 - Present
Pediatrics,
Clinical Science Departments
Professor in the Department of Pathology
·
2015 - Present
Pathology,
Clinical Science Departments
Professor in Pharmacology and Cancer Biology
·
2020 - Present
Pharmacology & Cancer Biology,
Basic Science Departments
Professor in Neurosurgery
·
2022 - Present
Neurosurgery,
Neurosurgery
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute
·
2013 - Present
Duke Cancer Institute,
Institutes and Centers
Co-Director of the Duke Regeneration Center
·
2021 - Present
Duke Regeneration Center,
Basic Science Departments
Recent Publications
Comparative Finite Element Analysis of Denosumab and Bazedoxifene on Pedicle Screw Stability in Osteoporotic Spines.
Journal Article JOR Spine · December 2025 INTRODUCTION: Pedicle screw fixation in osteoporotic spines remains challenging. Bazedoxifene (BZA) and denosumab (Dmab) are widely used agents for osteoporosis, but their comparative effects on spinal instrumentation are not well understood. This study ai ... Full text Link to item CiteWSTF nuclear autophagy regulates chronic but not acute inflammation.
Journal Article Nature · August 2025 Acute inflammation is an essential response that our bodies use to combat infections1. However, in the absence of infections, chronic inflammation can have a pivotal role in the onset and progression of chronic diseases, such as arthritis, cancer, autoimmu ... Full text Open Access Link to item CiteImpact of Lumbar Degenerative Changes on Vertebral Bone Strength: A Finite Element Analysis.
Journal Article J Orthop Res · May 2025 Assessing the bone condition in patients with spinal disease is clinically valuable. However, evaluating bone strength in the presence of spine degenerative changes is challenging. Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and finite element analysis (FEA) ha ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
2/3 CTSA K12 Program at Duke University
ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030Boston Children's/UCLA/Duke Next Generation Regeneration for Osteoarthritis (BUD NextGenRegen for OA)
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health · 2024 - 2029The Duke Preparing Research scholars In bioMEdical sciences (PRIME): Cancer Research Program
ResearchPreceptor · Awarded by National Cancer Institute · 2023 - 2028View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Thomas Jefferson University, Sidney Kimmel Medical College ·
1986
M.D.