Price Transparency
The Dallas Morning News: Dallas Researchers Get $2.3M to Study Rare Childhood Disease

The Dallas Morning News: Dallas Researchers Get $2.3M to Study Rare Childhood Disease

by | Jan 20, 2026 | General News, Hip Disorders, Press Coverage, Research & Innovation

Researchers at Scottish Rite for Children received a five-year, $2.3 million NIH grant to study osteonecrosis, a condition caused by reduced blood flow that weakens and destroys bone and affects nearly 20,000 Americans each year.

The study, led by Yinshi Ren, Ph.D., principal investigator and scientist at Scottish Rite for Children and assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center, will focus on how malfunctioning bone repair cells may contribute to osteonecrosis and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. Treatment for Perthes disease, a rare childhood hip disorder, does not slow the progression, rather it relies on surgery and other interventions to protect the joint. Ren’s research will potentially pave the way for new therapies.

Read the full story here.

Scottish Rite for Children Receives $2.3M NIH Grant to Advance Bone Regeneration Research in Children With Perthes Disease

Scottish Rite for Children Receives $2.3M NIH Grant to Advance Bone Regeneration Research in Children With Perthes Disease

by | Jan 12, 2026 | General News, Hip Disorders

Researchers at Scottish Rite for Children received a $2.3 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study how the body repairs bone and restores blood flow in osteonecrosis and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.

Osteonecrosis is a painful condition found in children and adults in which disruption of blood flow causes bone tissue to die. As the bone collapses, the joint surface can become damaged, leading to chronic pain, stiffness, and hip arthritis. In children, the condition typically appears as Perthes disease, a rare childhood hip disorder that affects the ball of the hip joint.

“Children with Perthes disease can face long, difficult recoveries with few effective treatment options,” said Yinshi Ren, Ph.D., principal investigator and scientist at Scottish Rite for Children and assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “Many live with pain or long-term joint problems that can lead to early arthritis or disability. Our research will not only fill critical gaps in our understanding of how bone heals after osteonecrosis but also lay the groundwork for developing a targeted biological treatment, which does not exist currently.”

Perthes occurs when the blood supply to the ball of the hip joint is disrupted, causing all or part of the bone to die. As the disease progresses, the weakened bone can break apart and lose its round shape. Over time, the body attempts to repair the damage by absorbing the dead bone and gradually replacing it with new, softer bone that later hardens as healing progresses. However, healing is slow and more difficult in older children, and if left untreated, the weakened bone may collapse or become misshaped, resulting in hip deformity.

Deformity causes symptoms, such as pain, stiffness, limited hip movement and limping that can make it difficult for children to walk and play. To help keep the ball round and properly positioned in the socket, doctors may use surgery, braces or physical therapy. During treatment, children need to keep weight off and must rely on a wheelchair or crutches for mobility.

“Our goal is to move beyond managing symptoms and toward true healing,” Ren said.

The cause of Perthes disease is unknown, and there is currently no established gold standard for treatment, and biological therapies are lacking. Most available approaches rely primarily on surgical intervention, which only manages the symptoms and disease progression rather than addressing the underlying cause. The disease typically affects children ages 4 to 8 and shows a marked male predominance, with approximately four boys affected for every one girl.

“Understanding how bone and blood vessels regenerate in patients with osteonecrosis or Perthes disease could lead to new therapies that stimulate tissue repair,” Ren said.

The new project aims to uncover the molecular signals that drive bone repair and blood vessel growth, paving the way for the first regenerative therapy for this condition.

The NIH funding will be utilized to further establish a new program at Scottish Rite focused on translating lab discoveries into better care for patients with hip disorders and chronic joint pain.

The investment supports:

    • Recruitment of new researchers and trainees
    • State-of-the-art lab equipment and disease models
    • Collaborations with experts at UT Southwestern and Duke University
    • Sharing discoveries through conferences and publications with physicians and researchers around the world

“This research is at the heart of our mission to give children back their childhood,” said Robert L. Walker, President and CEO of Scottish Rite for Children. “This work will shape the future of care and improve the lives of children for generations to come.”

Ren will continue his work with Matthew J. Hilton, Ph.D., associate chair for research and professor in Orthopaedic Surgery and Cell Biology at Duke University School of Medicine.

Also collaborating on the project is world-renowned Perthes expert, pediatric orthopedic surgeon and Director of the Center of Excellence in Hip at Scottish Rite for Children Harry Kim, M.D., M.S., a professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center and chair of the International Perthes Study Group.

Together, they will use advanced genetic imaging and bioinformatic sequencing tools such as single-cell/nucleus RNA sequencing to examine how bone cells respond to the disease.

This approach will reveal gene activity within individual cells, providing insight into bone repair and potentially identifying new cell populations involved in regeneration.

This work could transform how doctors treat Perthes disease and related conditions in both children and adults, offering patients faster recovery, improved joint function and better long-term outcomes.

National Institutes of Health Awards $1.54M Grant to Scottish Rite for Children for Rare Diseases Research

National Institutes of Health Awards $1.54M Grant to Scottish Rite for Children for Rare Diseases Research

by | Jan 12, 2026 | General News, Hip Disorders

Every year, thousands of children and adults face the crippling effects of osteonecrosis. Now, thanks to a $1.54 million NIH grant, researchers at Scottish Rite for Children and UT Southwestern Medical Center are studying a promising new treatment using hydrogel. Osteonecrosis is a painful condition where reduced blood flow causes bone tissue to die, which leads to the bone collapsing. For children, the condition often appears as Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, a hip disorder that can leave young patients limping or even unable to walk.

The study’s goal is to evaluate the treatment effectiveness of a pro-angiogenic bone coating (ABC) hydrogel, which is injected into the bone experiencing osteonecrosis. The gel is made mostly from natural ingredients, like gelatin and hyaluronic acid, and is designed to promote the growth of new blood vessels and support the healing and regeneration of damaged bone.

“The hydrogel works like a ‘smart glue.’ When it is injected into the injured bone, it quickly breaks down and clings to the bone where it is needed most,” says Chi Ma, Ph.D., senior research scientist at Scottish Rite for Children and assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at UT Southwestern. “This helps restore blood flow, stops the bone from breaking down further, and encourages the bone to heal, leading to a less invasive method for treating the progressive condition.”

According to the National Organization for Rare Diseases, osteonecrosis affects an estimated 20,000 people in the U.S. each year, including children, young adults and individuals undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy. In serious cases, the affected bone, often in the hip or knee, may collapse, making walking intolerable. Current treatments are limited and often involve invasive surgery or joint replacement, especially in advanced stages of the disease.

The hydrogel is designed to have unique features that make it a candidate for better treatment for osteonecrosis.

“Conducting groundbreaking research is a pillar of our institution,” says Scottish Rite for Children Chief of Staff Daniel J. Sucato, M.D., M.S. “We’ve had a relationship with UT Southwestern since 1948, and we’re grateful for this ongoing collaboration that allows us to focus on discovering new treatments, educating the next generation in pediatric orthopedics and providing the highest quality patient care.”

The ABC hydrogel as a treatment for osteonecrosis may offer hope not only for adults affected by the condition but also for children with Perthes disease. Perthes disease is a childhood hip disorder in which the blood supply to the ball of the hip’s ball-and-socket joint is temporarily cut off. This disruption causes all or part of the bone to die. As the condition progresses, the ball begins to collapse. A child with Perthes may begin limping and eventually, may be unable to walk. This treatment aims to preserve the rounded shape that fits into the socket of the hip joint and reverse the progression of the disease for full recovery.

“At Scottish Rite for Children, we are dedicated to transforming the lives of children and their families by turning our research discoveries into meaningful treatments and life-changing outcomes,” says Robert L. Walker, president/CEO of Scottish Rite.

Fueled by Hope: How Andrew Returned to the Game After Perthes

Fueled by Hope: How Andrew Returned to the Game After Perthes

by | Nov 4, 2025 | Hip Disorders

Previously published in Rite Up, 2025 – Issue 3

The hope of winning is what fuels 10-year-old Andrew, a passionate multisport athlete of Redmond, Oregon. He always plays with a heart full of ambition, unaware that this same spirit would be a guiding force throughout his treatment process.

In second grade, Andrew developed pain in his knee and began to limp. A local provider diagnosed him with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, or Perthes disease, a rare childhood hip disorder. The condition affected the ball of Andrew’s right hip joint. The blood supply to the ball of his hip joint was disrupted, which caused his bone to die in a process known as osteonecrosis.

“We were devastated,” says Megan, Andrew’s mother. “I watched Andrew’s heart break right in front of me, especially when we learned he couldn’t play sports for a while. I didn’t know how we would get through this.”

Initially, Andrew underwent surgery and wore a cast, but his condition did not improve. Megan searched for other treatment options and discovered Harry Kim M.D., M.S., a world-renowned expert in Perthes disease and director of the Center for Excellence in Hip at Scottish Rite for Children.

After a flight from Oregon to Dallas, Andrew’s family found solutions to their son’s condition at Scottish Rite. Andrew underwent a perfusion MRI that revealed he had only 30% to 40% of blood flow to the ball of his hip joint. Dr. Kim performed surgery on Andrew’s thigh bone and repositioned the ball of his femur into the hip socket. Then, he installed metal plates and screws to stabilize the hip and promote blood flow.

“In older patients like Andrew, surgery reduces the chance of needing additional surgeries later on,” Dr. Kim says. “Some people assume Perthes disease negatively affects children’s lives. However, families should always stay hopeful. With the right treatment, we can help children return to the activities they love.”

After a year of healing, Dr. Kim cleared Andrew to walk, run and play again. Andrew made a grand return to his Little League team and continues his path of becoming a sports legend, thanks to the hope his care team and family kept throughout his care.

“Dr. Kim is not just knowledgeable about Perthes disease, but he also understands the mental toll it takes on kids and their families,” Megan says. “You can feel Dr. Kim’s passion. It’s not just his job — it’s his calling. Thanks to Scottish Rite, I finally can relax because I know Andrew is in the best hands.”

Healing More Than a Hip: Pierre Spreads Compassion After Perthes Disease

Healing More Than a Hip: Pierre Spreads Compassion After Perthes Disease

by | Sep 2, 2025 | Hip Disorders

Riding a bike is a rite of passage in childhood — a symbol of freedom and fun. For 8-year-old Pierre, gliding through his neighborhood in Michigan was a favorite pastime. But one day, what started as an ordinary ride ended with a sudden, sharp pain in his hip.

“The pain was immobilizing,” Pierre says, now 18, reflecting on this memory. “I could barely walk.”

Concerned for his health, Pierre’s family brought him to a local emergency room and consulted several specialists, which led to a diagnosis of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. Better known as Perthes disease, this rare childhood hip disorder occurs when the blood supply to the ball of the hip joint is disrupted, which causes the bone to die.

After searching for ways to treat his rare condition at other facilities across the country and receiving surgical treatments that failed to improve his hip, Pierre’s family ultimately found their way to Scottish Rite for Children and began treatment with pediatric orthopedic surgeon and Director of the Center for Excellence in Hip Harry Kim, M.D., M.S.

“Scottish Rite was a place I actually looked forward to visiting,” Pierre says. “The hospital itself was huge and child friendly with interactive spaces. Those things made it feel less like a hospital and more like a place for kids to heal.”

Pierre required surgery to heal his hip. Dr. Kim performed an osteochondroplasty to reshape Pierre’s hip, which involves removing the excess bone on the hip socket to improve hip mobility. Additionally, Dr. Kim performed a soft tissue release, a procedure done to loosen the tight, contracted tissues around the joint to improve movement. Following surgery, Pierre continued to heal through various stretching exercises and physiotherapy, eventually regaining his ability to walk independently and play sports.

“Dr. Kim not only fixed my hip, but he protected my childhood,” Pierre says. “Dr. Kim brought humor, peace and consistency when everything else felt unpredictable. He made the whole experience easier for my family and I.”

After healing, Pierre reflects on nothing but positive memories of the community he built at Scottish Rite, including his care team and the other patients he met. “Scottish Rite was the first place where I felt seen, respected and uplifted through the hardest time of my life,” Pierre says. “Just being able to be around other kids reminded me that I wasn’t broken. I was just in progress.”

With his senior year of high school underway, Pierre is finding purpose in helping other children find their community and play the sport he loves — basketball. He hopes to provide the children he coaches with a similar level of compassion that he received from his care team at Scottish Rite years ago.

Do you have a story? We want to hear it! Share your story with us.

Central Oregon Daily: Andrew’s Journey Back to the Baseball Field

Central Oregon Daily: Andrew’s Journey Back to the Baseball Field

by | Jun 12, 2025 | Hip Disorders, Press Coverage

Andrew was only 8 when Perthes disease, a rare childhood hip disorder, changed everything. One day, he was playing baseball, and the next, he couldn’t walk.

“There were days he would come home from school, and he was in so much pain he would go lay down in his bed for the rest of the day,” says Megan, Andrew’s mother. “We knew something was wrong.”

With no clear answers, the Barrs consulted multiple specialists and advocated for a perfusion MRI. Unable to get one done in their hometown, they flew from Oregon to Dallas to Scottish Rite for Children where pediatric orthopedic surgeon and Director of the Center for Excellence in Hip Harry Kim, M.D., M.S., treated Andrew.

After a successful surgery and two years of physical therapy sessions, Andrew was cleared to walk.

“It’s so amazing to see him do something that he loves again,” Megan says.

Watch his full story on Central Oregon Daily News.