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Yu Ru Shih

Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic Surgery

Research Interests


The long term goal of my research is to develop effective, innovative, and safe treatments for musculoskeletal conditions including fracture, osteoarthritis, bone cancer, and the associated pain. This is achieved by understanding the fundamental biology using animal models, animal/human tissues, and in vitro cultures that involves primary or stem cell-derived models. These understandings form the basis for identification of therapeutic targets to develop treatments that promote tissue repair and pain relief.  

Selected Grants


Localization of adenosine to promote fracture healing

ResearchSenior Research Associate · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2022 - 2027

Modulation of local adenosine signaling to attenuate fracture pain

ResearchSenior Research Associate · Awarded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases · 2021 - 2026

Understanding the role of senescence on post-operative neuroinflammation

ResearchSenior Research Associate · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2022 - 2025

Adenosine A2B Receptor in Bone Health and Osteoporosis

ResearchSenior Research Associate · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2017 - 2023

Bioinspired Synthetic Grafts for Bone Regeneration

ResearchResearch Scientist · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2017 - 2019

External Relationships


  • OsteoCure Therapeutics
  • duke university patent applications

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.