“Research That Has Impact”

Brian R. Wolf, MD, MS, is part of the research team participating in the PIKASO trial (Preventing Injured Knees from Osteoarthritis: Severity Outcomes), the first Arthritis Foundation-directed clinical trial aimed at preventing post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). The trial brings together top scientists from nine institutions across the country to examine the use of the drug Metformin in people with knee injury who are at high-risk for developing PTOA in the knee after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Dr. Wolf is a professor and vice-chair in the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics’ Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, director of the university’s sports medicine and head team physician for the University of Iowa Athletics. He shared some information about himself and his role in PIKASO.

Q: Tell us about your background.

I grew up as a multi-sport athlete and ultimately was a collegiate basketball player at Loyola University Chicago. Starting in high school, I was interested in sports medicine, which led me to “pre-med” studies as an undergraduate. As a student athlete, I was always in summer school to take my prerequisite science classes that had laboratory components since I could not fit those in during fall and spring semesters when basketball season was occurring. In addition to class, I would shadow my team physician in the summer, and he gave me summer research to do.  

I ultimately went to medical school at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine and did my orthopedic residency at the University of Iowa, followed by residency at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Upon joining the faculty at the University of Iowa, I also completed a master’s degree in clinical investigation.  

Q: What drew you to the field of science and research, and arthritis research in particular?  And what do you hope to accomplish professionally?

In my last undergraduate summer, I was a formal research intern in the orthopedics department at Loyola, and our projects resulted in published papers. I really enjoyed the process and results of research. And I’ve found myself engaged in research activities ever since. It is rewarding to produce research that has impact and changes practice for physicians and surgeons. In addition, I wanted my medical career to somehow be associated with sports and athletes. Fortunately, this worked out nicely. I am now the head team physician for University of Iowa Athletics and get to work closely with teams and athletes regularly.

Q: Could you describe what you do, especially with PIKASO?

I am an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon and routinely perform anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery. At Iowa, we are enrolling patients in the PIKASO study.  

Q: Do you expect PIKASO to affect patients directly or indirectly? How so?

Directly. Hopefully we can demonstrate lower rates of post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis.

Q: What are you excited about in osteoarthritis (OA)? What should patients be excited about?

OA affects so many people today, and we continue to strive for interventions that lessen its impact.  

Q: What else would you like to share about your involvement with arthritis research?

We've been actively involved in research that analyzes ACL patients with weight-bearing CT scans, which can discern subtle signs of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). We also have been a longtime member of the Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network (MOON) Group. MOON Group research in knee ACL patients and shoulder instability patients is also analyzing risk factors for PTOA in our patients after injury and surgical interventions in large prospective cohorts.