Stephan Perren AO Trauma Research Traveling Fellowship
The Stephan Perren AO Trauma Research Traveling Fellowship is open to AO Trauma members from Europe and Southern Africa and the Middle East and Northern Africa.
Each year, this prestigious fellowship selects five enthusiastic early-career clinicians with a passion for trauma care, offering them the chance to collaborate with leading experts and gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge trauma and musculoskeletal research. Fellows begin their journey with a two-week immersion at the world-renowned AO Research Institute Davos (ARI) in Switzerland in the spring, followed by an additional two weeks in the fall at one of several premier research centers across Europe and the UK.
During their fellowship, fellows have the opportunity to refine and enhance their own research proposals. They will receive expert feedback, gain insights into the latest research methodologies, and prepare for future grant submissions. This immersive experience enables fellows to develop a deeper understanding of ongoing research in trauma, biomechanics, and musculoskeletal regeneration, while expanding their skills in research techniques. Additionally, fellows will become part of a global network of researchers and institutions, fostering lasting professional connections that will support their future careers.
Research Centres
Each host institution actively contributes to trauma and musculoskeletal research through a variety of experimental, clinical, and biomechanical approaches.
Fellowship Periods and Host Centres:
June 7–18, 2027:
- Julius Wolff Institute for Biomechanics and Musculoskeletal Regeneration Berlin Institute of Health and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
- University Hospital of Zurich, Department of Trauma, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Leeds, Academic Department of Trauma, Leeds, United Kingdom
Note: Applicants may indicate their preferred host institution for the fall term, though final assignments depend on availability.
September 6–17, 2027:
- AO Research Institute Davos (ARI)
Stipend and Financial Support
The fellowship provides a grant to support travel and lodging costs for the four-week program:
- CHF 4,000 for candidates from Europe and Southern Africa
- CHF 5,000 for candidates from the Middle East and Northern Africa (reflecting higher travel costs)
Please note: The stipend is intended as a contribution towards travel, accommodation, and meal expenses; it may not fully cover all costs. Fellows are responsible for arranging their own accommodation and insurance.
Who can apply?
The Stephan Perren AO Trauma Research Traveling Fellowship welcomes passionate early-career clinicians who are committed to advancing trauma care.
- Qualified surgeons, or surgeons in training, specializing in trauma, orthopaedics, or related surgical fields
- Under 45 years of age
- AO Trauma members residing in the AO Trauma Europe and Southern Africa or AO Trauma Middle East and Northern Africa regions
- Applicants with trauma research experience, such as authorship of a clinical or basic research article, participation in a trauma-related project, or hands-on experience in clinical or basic research activities
- Applicants who have completed the AO Trauma Basic and Advanced Principles courses
Application documents
To apply, please prepare the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae, including your clinical career, research experience, relevant projects, and publications to date, listed in APA format with DOI where available
- Certificates from the AO Trauma Basic and Advanced Principles courses
- Medical school diploma
- Recommendation letter from your Head of Department
- Personal letter of application, including your motivation, initiative, career goals, and preferred career path in trauma care
- Optional short translational research proposal to be refined during the fellowship and discussed with the ARI research team
Call for applications for 2027 is open
Application deadline: October 12, 2026
Selection timeline and applicant notification: Fall/Winter 2026
Selection and Post-Fellowship Reporting
The selection process is led by senior faculty members from each host institution, including regional trauma research committees, who conduct a thorough peer review of all applications.
Following the fellowship, each participant is required to complete a post-fellowship survey/report outlining their experience and insights gained.
For additional questions or support, please contact perren.fellowship@aofoundation.org.
Applicants from the Asia Pacific region should refer to the ARI–APOA/APORS Research Fellowship for more information and application details.
Research Focus Areas at Participating Centres
- Biomechanics: Bone-implant construct stability testing with anatomical specimens and computer simulations
- Fracture Healing: Optimization, monitoring and prediction of bone healing with new implant concepts, implantable sensors, diagnostic and prognostic healing simulations
- Surgical Education: Development of innovative tools for digitally enhanced training and assessment of surgical knowledge and skills
- Bone Formation: In vivo and in vitro mechanobiology of bone healing with bioreactors and animal models using spatial transcriptomics and predictive biomarker towards personalized treatment
- Cartilage and IVD regeneration: Novel cell-based and biomaterial-based therapeutic strategies investigated in organ models with multiaxial bioreactors
- Biomaterials: Scaffolds and gels for promotion of tissue regeneration and infection prevention, novel contactless biofabrication technologies with sound guided tissue regeneration
- Anti-infection: Preclinical models for pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal
- Biomechanics: Studying fracture morphology, treatment comparisons, and implant biomechanics.
- Fracture Healing: Investigating critical size defects in animal models, responses to long bone injuries, and effects of stabilization methods.
- Bone Formation: Examining mesenchymal stem cells' capacity for bone formation and their differentiation under external influences.
- Clinical Studies: Conducting big data analysis, clinical trials, and motion analysis.
- Bone Regeneration: Lab techniques for mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) isolation and manipulation, scaffold development, and clinical exposure to bone repair methods.
- Biomechanics: Gait analysis protocols, laboratory exposure to biomechanical testing, and approaches to analyzing gait patterns.
- Clinical Trials: Methodologies for trial setup, patient recruitment, and ethical approval processes.
- Immuno-inflammatory Response: Research on the pathogenesis of organ failure, molecular mediators, and quantification using ELISA kits.
- Biomechanics and Biophysics: Investigating joint loading, musculoskeletal analysis, spine biomechanics, and trauma fixation.
- Musculoskeletal Regeneration: Studying cell biology, molecular traumatology, bone healing, and advanced therapies.
- Facilities include various gait labs, biomechanical testing labs, and instrumentation for clinical trials and implant analysis.
Selected candidates for the S Perren Fellowships
| Family Name | First Name | Region | Country |
Engelmann | Esmee | AO TESA | Netherlands |
Jacobsen | Mads Emil | AO TESA | Denmark |
Gálvez Márquez | Gonzalo | AO TESA | Spain |
Traigy | Shareef | AO TMENA | Egypt |
Saad Thabet | Mahmoud Mohammad | AO TMENA | Egypt |
| Family Name | First Name | Region | Country |
Kougioumtzis | Ioannis | AO TESA | Greece |
Kurokawa | Takayuki | AO TESA | Hungary |
Saracco | Michela | AO TESA | Italy |
Elsheikh | Ahmed Abdelwahab Elsayed Mohamed | AO TMENA | Egypt |
Khan | Sumaiya | AO TMENA | Pakistan |
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