The Interventional Orthobiologics Foundation (IOF) MAX Experience 2025 brought together top experts in regenerative medicine, pushing forward the latest advancements in orthobiologics and data-driven treatment approaches. The 10 year anniversary of the conference resulted in the biggest turnout yet and DataBiologics was right in the middle of it! Here are some of our highlights from the conference:
📌 Biologics for Low Back Pain with Dr. Mary Ambach
Mary Ambach, MD (BioEvolve) presented compelling data from the DataBiologics registry, demonstrating that intradiscal orthobiologic injections can significantly improve pain and function for patients with low back pain. She highlighted the importance of treating the entire functional spine unit, including the disc, while noting that research in this area is still catching up to clinical practice.
🔬 Understanding Platelet Dosing with Dr. William Berrigan
William Berrigan, MD (UCSF Department of Orthopedic Surgery) presented research from his latest platelet dosing meta-analysis, published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine, on how cell concentration influences patient outcomes.
Key Findings:
- PRP doses over 10 billion platelets improve function and chondroprotection in knee OA, with stronger effects on function than pain relief.
- Efficacy of PRP varies by condition; some tendinopathies respond well to lower doses, but optimal levels remain unclear.
- Studies on PRP generally lack standardization in preparation and reporting, making comparisons difficult.
💉 PRP Dosing & Real-World Data with Plymouth Medical
DataBiologics teamed up with Plymouth Medical for an in-depth PRP dosing lab, highlighting the latest findings on optimal PRP preparation and application. Featuring insights from leading experts including Jeremy Magalon (Remedex), William Berrigan (UCSF), and Himanshu Bansal (Delhi, India), the session focused on how precise PRP dosing can impact clinical outcomes.
💪 MFAT for Shoulder Degenerative Joint Disease with Dr. Ariana DeMers
Ariana DeMers, DO (Restore Orthopedics & Sports Medicine) shared real-world data from the DataBiologics registry on microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) for shoulder osteoarthritis, particularly in cases with rotator cuff pathology.
Key Insights:
- MFAT is a safe, effective option for patients with shoulder OA and rotator cuff issues
- Ultrasound-assisted harvest and guided injections improve outcomes
- Sustained pain relief and functional improvement observed over 24 months
“I do think there's something to this that we treat soft tissue, the joint, and all the surrounding structures. I'm going to encourage you to consider a comprehensive approach to using MFAT for both osteoarthritis and partial thickness tears of rotator cuff.” – Dr. Ariana DeMers
🤝 Mastering Patient Engagement & Building Trust with Dr. Don Buford
Don Buford, MD (Texas Orthobiologics) emphasized that patient engagement is just as important as clinical expertise when it comes to achieving great outcomes and growing a successful practice.
Key Strategies for Patient Engagement:
- Personalized Consultations – Spend time understanding the patient’s goals and setting expectations for their outcomes.
- Reputation & Trust – Patients remember the experience, not just the procedure. Make sure they feel heard and valued.
- Follow-Ups & Referrals – The best time to ask for referrals is when a patient expresses gratitude—leverage this moment to grow your practice.
"Ask questions, listen to the answers, and ask more questions based on the answers you hear. You really only have to have one question ready: ‘What brings you in today?’ And then you have to listen."" – Dr. Don Buford
🐴 Biologics in Veterinary & Equine Medicine with Dr. Lisa Fortier
Lisa Fortier, DVM, PhD (Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine) shared cutting-edge biologic treatments in equine medicine that show strong potential, though they are not yet approved in the US for human use. Arthramid (Arthrosamid in humans), a polyacrylamide hydrogel, has shown promise as a long-term structural modifier. Pro-Stride (nStride in humans), an autologous protein solution that delivers concentrated anti-inflammatory proteins like IRAP to slow osteoarthritis progression, is also being used successfully in horses.
Dr. Fortier also emphasized the importance of looking beyond just platelets in PRP and bone marrow concentrate, urging practitioners to pay closer attention to monocytes and their role in reducing inflammation and promoting tissue repair.
"When we’re talking about orthobiologics as a replacement for corticosteroids in our patients, what we're really trying to do is restore homeostasis, and yes, decrease pain, but the reason is so we can get them back to physiotherapy and get them to restore that strength." – Dr. Lisa Fortier
📢 Biologic Association Update with Dr. Shane Shapiro
Shane Shapiro, MD (Mayo Clinic Department of Orthopedic Surgery) provided updates on the Biologic Association’s initiatives, emphasizing the importance of a unified voice in musculoskeletal biologics.
Key Initiatives:
- BARB biorepository project – Over 600+ patient samples collected with a goal of 1,200
- Consensus papers – Standardizing best practices for responsible biologics use
- Regulatory engagement – Ongoing collaboration with the FDA to shape future biologics policies
🏆 DataBiologics Top Performer Awards
At IOF MAX 2025, we were honored to present the first-ever DataBiologics Top Performer Awards, recognizing providers who have demonstrated exceptional real-world patient outcomes with blood-derived orthobiologics in the IMPACT registry.
📊 Award Criteria:
- High volume of patient-reported outcomes collected
- Consistently significant improvements in pain & function
- High patient satisfaction
🔗 Read the full report here: https://share.hsforms.com/2SMwXvVxFTduFR0YkfeYVGwdvtme
💭 Final Thoughts
IOF MAX 2025 was an incredible showcase of innovation, research, and clinical excellence. A huge thank you to IOF for hosting another incredible conference!