The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and OREF awarded the 2026 Arnold I. Caplan Award for Distinguished Research in Orthobiologics to Johnny Huard, PhD. Dr. Huard, who is Chief Scientific Officer of Steadman Philippon Research Institute, received the award for his research on "Mesenchymal Stem Cells or Medicinal Signaling Cells (MSCs): Origin, Mechanism of Action(s) & Clinical Application of MSCs.”

The award recognizes Dr. Huard’s 30 years of investigation, which showed that MSCs could be isolated from adult skeletal muscle. These muscle-derived stem cells have the key characteristics of stem cells, making them valuable for use in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine to treat tissues affected by musculoskeletal injuries, disease or aging.

The Caplan Award is funded by a generous gift from the family of Arnold I. Caplan, PhD to recognize significant contributions to advancing the development of biologics solutions to treat musculoskeletal conditions. Recipients of the Arnold I. Caplan Award for Distinguished Research in Orthobiologics are announced at the AAOS Annual Meeting. Funding of the award is overseen by OREF.