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Louis Edwin DeFrate

Laszlo Ormandy Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic Surgery
MSRB Room 379, Box 3093 DUMC, Durham, NC 27710
Room 379, Medical Sciences Research Building, Box 3093 Med. Ctr., Durham, NC 27710

Selected Grants


Boston Children's/UCLA/Duke Next Generation Regeneration for Osteoarthritis (BUD NextGenRegen for OA)

ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health · 2024 - 2029

In vivo ACL mechanics and risk factors for injury

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029

Mentoring in Musculoskeletal Pain Phenotypes

ResearchCollaborator · Awarded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases · 2022 - 2027

Biomechanical and Biological Predictors of Cartilage Health Following Meniscus Injury

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases · 2021 - 2026

In Vivo Knee Motion and ACL Biomechanics During Dynamic Activities

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases · 2019 - 2025

Mechanical Biomarkers of Chronic Low Back Pain

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2025

Comparison of In-Vivo Knee cartilage vs. augmented anterolateral ligament reconstruction

ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by Piedmont Orthopedic Foundation · 2019 - 2025

Weight loss, in vivo cartilage mechanics, and joint health

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2024

Duke CTSA (TL1) Year 5

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2018 - 2024

Quantitative MRI of Glenohumeral Cartilage & Labrum in Shoulder Instability

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation · 2022 - 2024

VA Valor Up K-Lab Contract

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center · 2023 - 2023

Development of Chondroregenerative Therapy for Human Osteoarthritis

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of Rochester Medical Center · 2017 - 2023

Metabolomic & Radiographic Markers of Fracture Risk Among Older Adults with Diabetes (K23)

ResearchCo-Mentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2018 - 2023

Exercise-induced recovery of intervertebral disc health

ResearchCollaborator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2020 - 2022

Age-related alterations in the in vivo mechanical function of the spine

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2017 - 2020

Training in Medical Imaging

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2003 - 2020

In Vivo Knee Motion and ACL Biomechanics During Dynamic Activities

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2014 - 2019

Biomechanical Markers of Knee Osteoarthritis and In Vivo Cartilage Loading

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2015 - 2018

In Vivo Cartilage Mechanics and Degeneration After ACL Deficiency

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2013 - 2017

The In Vivo Biomechanics of Lateral Ankle Ligament Injury and Reconstruction

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2008 - 2012

External Relationships


  • Elsevier
  • Gordon Research Conferences
  • NIH

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies, institutions, or organizations listed above. This information is available to institutional leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.