Dr. Brian Feeley, left, and Dr. Xuhui Liu gathered with members of the Muscle Injury and Translational Orthopaedic (MITO) Research Lab at the UCSF Mission Bay campus last week to celebrate the lab’s 15th anniversary. The event marked a milestone in the lab’s research on muscle degeneration, regeneration and collaboration across UCSF and the San Francisco VA Health Care System. (Photo courtesy of UCSF MITO Lab)
MITO Lab Marks 15 Years of Advancing Muscle Research
UCSF Muscle Injury and Translational Orthopaedic (MITO) research lab celebrates 15 years of research, collaboration and mentorship that have advanced understanding of muscle degeneration and repair
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 17, 2025 — The UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is celebrating a milestone: 15 years of discovery and impact by the Muscle Injury and Translational Orthopaedic (MITO) Research Lab, co-directed by Dr. Brian Feeley and Dr. Xuhui Liu. What began as a focused effort to understand muscle degeneration has evolved into a nationally recognized program known for scientific innovation, mentorship and collaboration.
“What Dr. Feeley and Dr. Liu have built over 15 years is remarkable,” said Dr. C. Benjamin Ma, chair of the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. “They’ve created a collaborative, inclusive environment that supports scientists at every level, and the national recognition they’ve earned reflects their commitment to advancing patient care. We congratulate the entire MITO team and look forward to the next 15 years of discovery.”
Current members of the UCSF MITO Lab gathered on the UCSF Mission Bay campus last week to celebrate the lab’s 15th anniversary. Over the past 15 years, the lab has welcomed postdocs, physician-scientists, medical students, residents, summer interns, college students and high school students to pursue laboratory research in muscle degeneration, regeneration and translational orthopaedics. (Photo courtesy of UCSF MITO Lab)
Leaders in regenerative medicine research at UCSF
Since its founding in 2010, the lab has published numerous papers and posters on muscle tissue quality and its role in conditions such as rotator cuff tears, knee pain, limb immobilization, joint contractures and low back pain. The lab collaborates with Dr. Hubert Kim and other investigators at the UCSF/VA Mission Bay campus to develop models that reveal the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind muscle degeneration and regeneration.
This work is funded by CIRM, NIH, VA, UCSF and private donors. Members of the lab have earned awards and research grants from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and the Orthopaedic Research Society, including the ASES Neer Award (2020), AOSSM Excellence in Research Award (2021), ASES and OREF Resident Research Awards (2022, 2023), the AOSSM Cabaud Award (2023), and the Kappa Delta Elizabeth Winston Lanier Award from the Orthopaedic Research Society (2025).
In a joint statement, Dr. Feeley and Dr. Liu reflected on the milestone:
“We are grateful to everyone who has been part of the MITO Lab over the past 15 years — from students and postdocs to collaborators and clinical partners. The progress we’ve made is the result of shared curiosity, persistence, and a commitment to improving patients’ lives. This anniversary is not a capstone but a reminder of the work still ahead, and we’re excited to continue pushing the science forward together.”
About the UCSF MITO Research Lab
Dr. Brian Feeley and Dr. Xuhui Liu co-direct the Muscle Injury and Translational Orthopaedic (MITO) Research Lab, a nationally recognized program studying muscle tissue quality and its role in conditions such as rotator cuff tears, knee pain, limb immobilization, joint contractures and low back pain. The lab collaborates with Dr. Hubert Kim and other researchers at the UCSF/VA Mission Bay campus to develop models that reveal the molecular and cellular mechanisms of muscle degeneration and regeneration.
This work is funded by CIRM, NIH, VA, UCSF and private donors. Lab members have earned awards and research grants from AAOS, AOSSM and ORS. The MITO Lab fosters a collaborative, inclusive environment that supports scientists at all stages of their careers and emphasizes mentorship, teamwork and innovation.
