Orthopaedic Spinal Research Centre Aarhus (www.orf-aarhus.dk) is one of the worldwide leading centres in evidence-based spine research, clinical as well as experimental. The Aarhus Orthopaedic Research Group has a long tradition of accomplishing and publishing clinical studies^28,30-33 and has developed clinical experiences in local and international spine-databases since 1993 with more than 3000 patients. The director Cody Bünger is member of strategic study groups such as IGASS, SGSDE, AO-Spine, ISSL´s and SICOT. Aarhus Spine Center has headed national and international clinical research and developed new treatments involving spinal reconstruction in both degenerative disease, deformity, spinal fracture, infections and neoplastic destructions in collaboration with the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Gothenburg University, Free University of Amsterdam, Biomedicum Helsinki, Sun Yat Sen University Quangzou China as well as University Hospitals in Germany, France, Japan, Italy, Hong Kong and UK. The clinical research unit is interdisciplinary integrated in the experimental research group (STF-Nanoscience & Biocompatibility) and applying tests of new treatment-opportunities through animal-models. The centre puts strong effort on the education and training of researchers and PhD students. Currently 13 postdocs, 43 PhD students and 15 medical students are enrolled. The proposed projects will be highly integrated within the PhD programs of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Aarhus, Odense and Copenhagen. Further, the Spine Professorship of Aarhus holds an academic collaboration agreement with the regional hospitals in Viborg and Silkeborg (six spine surgeons, basic spine surgery of >1000 procedures per year).