Last month, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Collaborative Research Network (AMSSM CRN), housed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, recently hosted a national research conference focused on one of the most rapidly evolving and debated areas in sports medicine – orthobiologics.

Led by Stephanie Kliethermes, PhD, associate research professor in the UW Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation within the School of Medicine and Public Health, the conference – Orthobiologics for Sports Medicine Physicians: Bridging the Gaps – took place April 23–24, 2026, in Seattle, Washington, as a pre-conference to the annual meeting of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine.

Orthobiologics, which include treatments such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and cell-based therapies, have become increasingly common in sports and exercise medicine. Yet questions remain regarding their clinical effectiveness, appropriate use, and implementation in practice. As research in the field continues to expand rapidly, sports medicine physicians are navigating a complex and often polarized landscape.

The conference was designed to clarify these challenges by convening approximately 300 multidisciplinary experts, clinicians, and researchers from across the country. Ahead of the meeting, writing groups synthesized current evidence and identified knowledge gaps in key topic areas, including PRP for tendinopathy, platelet-based therapies for muscle injuries, and cell-based therapies for osteoarthritis.

The two-day conference featured sessions on basic science, translational research, and clinical application, while also fostering collaborative discussion through a structured consensus-building process. Organizers used the meeting to help establish future research priorities that can guide both investigators and practicing clinicians.

Following the conference, leaders compiled the consensus findings into an AMSSM research priorities statement on orthobiologics in sports medicine. The results will be disseminated through academic journals, websites, podcasts, and social media platforms to reach clinicians, researchers, and patients alike.

By bringing together experts from diverse disciplines, the conference helped advance evidence-based care and provide greater clarity on the role of orthobiologics in sports medicine practice.