Clinical Research Team
About Clinical Research
The UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Clinical Research Center (CRC) is a multidisciplinary research team of physicians, residents, medical students, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, public-health scientists, neuroscientists, and research staff, who are dedicated to conducting award-winning musculoskeletal research.
Our nationally recognized research is focused in the areas of sports medicine, concussion, spine, upper extremity, total joint arthroplasty, trauma, pediatrics, and more, with the mission to advance knowledge and develop innovative treatments for individuals with musculoskeletal conditions.
We are currently conducting numerous clinical research studies including local and multi-centered clinical trials with funding from the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, UB Jacobs School of Medicine, Western New York Community partners, and industry sponsors. To learn more about our cutting-edge basic science research, please click here.
The UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine doctors and research scientists are faculty members in the Department of Orthopaedics at the Jacobs School of Medicine, University at Buffalo and are dedicated to training the future generations of orthopedic fellows, residents, and medical students in clinical research. Our physicians are active in orthopedics and sports medicine research as investigators in departmental, University at Buffalo, and externally funded studies. Please visit their individual pages here to learn more.
As modern medicine and orthopedic surgery continue to evolve, our objectives are to serve members of the Buffalo community by advancing knowledge in the field through thoughtful and groundbreaking clinical research to improve patients’ quality of life.
We invite you to explore the CRC site, our work, and team members.
Please contact us with any questions.
Clinical Research Center (CRC)
111 North Maplemere Rd.,
Suite 100,
Williamsville NY, 14221
716.906.5932
CRC Leadership

Leslie J. Bisson, MD
Sports Medicine, Knee & Shoulder Arthroscopy, Clinical Research Department Chair
Thomas R. Duquin, MD
Shoulder Joint Replacement & Reconstruction, Clinical Research Associate Director
M. Nadir Haider, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor / Director of Concussion Research
John J. Leddy, MD, FACSM, FACP, FAMSSM
Primary Care Sports Medicine; Medical Director, UB Concussion Management and Research Center; Director of Clinical ResearchResearch Scientists

Sonja Pavlesen, MD, MS
Clinical Epidemiologist, Clinical Research Scientist
Nomi S. Weiss-Laxer, PhD, MPH, MA
Clinical Research ScientistResearch Coordinators

Mary Bayers-Thering, MS, MBA
Research Manager at Buffalo General Hospital, Clinical Research Coordinator
Haley Chizuk, PhD, MS, ATC, LAT
Research Assistant Professor
Lin Feng, MA, CCRC
Clinical Research Coordinator
Alexa Streicher, MPH
Clinical Research CoordinatorResearch Staff

Karim Belal, BS
Clinical Research Assistant Intern
Jenna Betterson
Research Administrative Assistant
Andrea Carland, MPH
Clinical Research Assistant
Elizabeth Castro, B.S.
PhD Candidate
Grace Germano, BS
Clinical Research Assistant
Alyssa Lickfeld, MS
Research Assistant