With St. Joseph's long-standing reputation for outstanding orthopaedic services, it was inevitable that the research laboratory would relocate to the St. Joseph campus. The strength of a progressive cutting-edge laboratory combined with renowned clinical specialists has kept the Orthopaedic Spinal Research Laboratory a leader in its field.

The laboratory facilities are divided into three primary areas: Biomechanical, Radiographic and Histological. The biomechanical facility offers an advanced six degree of freedom spine simulator, which is the only one of its kind in current operation. The spine simulator recreates the natural movement of spinal kinematics, and is used to perform biomechanical assessments of spinal reconstruction techniques. This technology combined with advanced histological and radiographic laboratories permit basic scientific research in new areas such as dynamic spinal stabilization, which is intended to preserve spinal mobility versus traditional methods of spinal fusion. Current research endeavors are also based in the evaluation of novel bone graft substitutes. The laboratory continues to evaluate and compare multiple bone graft delivery mechanisms and concentrations. Other areas of spinal research are focused on degenerative conditions, spinal deformity and spinal trauma.