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 researchers with a strong interest in trauma care. The program offers the opportunity to collaborate with leading experts and gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge trauma and musculoskeletal research.

Fellows begin with a two-week immersion in spring at one of several leading research centers across Europe and the UK, followed by an additional two-week visit to the world-renowned AO Research Institute Davos (ARI) in Switzerland in the fall.

In preparation for the fellowship at ARI, fellows develop a short translational research proposal based on a clinical question of interest. They present their proposal to the ARI research team and receive expert, constructive feedback. This exercise is intended as a learning opportunity to refine the research idea, explore feasibility, gain insight into translational research methodology, and prepare for future grant submissions.

Please note that no funding is associated with the execution of this proposal.

This immersive experience helps fellows deepen their understanding of trauma, biomechanics, and musculoskeletal regeneration research, while expanding their research skills and global professional network.

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 7–19, 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 researchers who are committed to advancing trauma care.

Researchers under 45 years of age with a strong interest in trauma care
Qualified surgeons, or surgeons in training, specializing in trauma, orthopaedics, or related surgical fields
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 will open in Summer 2026

Application deadline: to be announced in Summer 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

AO Research Institute Davos (ARI)
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
University of Zurich, Trauma Department
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.
University of Leeds, Academic Department of Trauma
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.
Wolff Institute Berlin
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

2026

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

2025

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

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