Bryan W. Cunningham

Bryan W. Cunningham, PhD, is the director of the MedStar Health Musculo-skeletal Education and Research Institute, which is part of the Division of 
Orthopaedic Research within the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. In this role, Dr. Cunningham is responsi-ble for formulating and implementing the Institute’s annual scientific and research strategy. He also oversees the development and maintenance of a multidisciplinary research center that conducts biomechanical testing, his-tological and radiographic studies, in-vivo biological modeling, and clinical research.

Dr. Cunningham supervises all basic science projects conducted at the Mus-culoskeletal Education and Research Institute and assists his MedStar col-leagues in developing and implementing research strategies. He collabo-rates with academic leaders, institutions, and private industry partners worldwide. His patents include the "Compression-Distraction Spinal Fixation System" (U.S. Patent No. 8,864,800 B2) and the "Compression-Distraction Spinal Fixation System and Kit" (U.S. Patent No. 8,968,367), among others for which he has pending applications.

He has published over 140 articles and 20 book chapters in peer-reviewed journals. His published research covers topics such as spinal reconstructive surgery, biomechanical fixation, and surgical techniques. Dr. Cunningham serves as an associate editor for Spine Deformity and reviews manuscripts for several prominent journals, including Spine, the Journal of Clinical 
Orthopaedics and Related Research, The Spine Journal, the European Spine Journal, and the Journal of Orthopaedic Research. His work has been fea-tured in leading journals like Spine, the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, Clinical Spine Surgery, and others.

In addition to his research, Dr. Cunningham plays an important role in edu-cation by developing and integrating a non-clinical research fellowship pro-gram for the Musculoskeletal Education and Research Institute. He pro-vides research guidance to medical students, orthopedic residents, fellows, and attending physicians, having mentored more than 15 PhD-level fellows.

Dr. Cunningham holds an adjunct professor appointment at the Menzies Health Institute, Queensland School of Medical Sciences, Griffith Universi-ty, Queensland, Australia. He has received numerous research awards, in-cluding the "Best Podium Presentation in Translational Research" from the European Orthopaedic Research Society and the "Basic Science Resident Research Award" from the Cervical Spine Research Society.

He is a member of the Scoliosis Research Society, the Orthopaedic Research Society, the North American Spine Society, and the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. Dr. Cunningham has presented his re-search at over 500 specialty society meetings, including those of the Scolio-sis Research Society, North American Spine Society, Cervical Spine Research Society, Orthopaedic Research Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, International Meeting of Advanced Spine Techniques, and others.

Dr. Cunningham earned his PhD in Musculoskeletal Spinal Research from the School of Medical Science, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, Grif-fith University, Brisbane, Australia.

Research Interests

Dr. Cunningham’s research interests include the following:

• Spinal reconstructive surgery
• Intersegmental motion preservation systems
• Innovative surgical techniques

Selected Research

• Biomechanical and Radiographic Evaluation of an Articulating Interbody Fusion Device for Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
• Biomechanical Properties of Direct Lateral Interbody Fusion with Supplemental Posterior Instrumentation for Adjacent Level Reconstruction
• Multidirectional Flexibility and Fixation Properties of Occipital Bolt versus Plate Stabilization Systems

View Dr. Cunningham’s publications on PubMed.