The Hospital For Special Surgery Fund, Inc.

The Hospital For Special Surgery Fund, Inc., doing business as HSS Foundation, is a New York-based tax-exempt nonprofit research institution that acts as a federal grant recipient, conducting investigator-initiated and career-development research in rheumatologic, orthopedic, immunologic, and musculoskeletal sciences. HSS Foundation competes predominantly in full-and-open federal grant programs rather than set-aside categories, with 68% of its recent federal award footprint consisting of prime grants (research awards and sub-awards combined). The organization holds no federal contracts and does not compete on IDIQs, GWACs, or BPAs.

HSS Foundation's federal footprint is heavily concentrated in basic and translational research across the National Institutes of Health, with the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) as the dominant grantor agency. The top five customer agencies by award count represent 78% of recent awards, with NIAMS accounting for 58 awards, the broader NIH awarding 39 awards, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases funding 29 awards, the National Institute on Aging supporting 6 awards, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke funding 5 awards. By potential value, the Air Force Air National Guard and the FDA lead the dollar rankings, though NIH agencies dominate by award volume and represent the institutional focus. Recent research grants include a $129 thousand NIAMS Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research award (CFDA 93.846) supporting Dr. Jannat-Khah's K01 career development study of immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis patients with melanoma (effective June 15, 2026, through May 31, 2031); a $719.791 thousand NICHD Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research award (CFDA 93.865) funding imaging research to predict limb length discrepancies in pediatric orthopedic patients (effective June 1, 2026, through May 30, 2031); and a $267.423 thousand NIAMS project grant for circulating cell-free tumor DNA biomarker development in immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated inflammatory arthritis (awarded September 16, 2025, through August 31, 2028).

Activity has grown from six awards in 2022 to 27 in 2024, with nine awards in 2026 (through mid-June). Twelve awards face ultimate completion dates within the next twenty-four months. HSS Foundation acts as a sub-recipient in 56 awards (32% of footprint), collaborating with prime grantees including the University of Pittsburgh, Baylor College of Medicine, Emory University, Columbia University, Washington University, New York University, Northwestern University, and the Benaroya Research Institute. Sub-work spans clinical trial participation, biospecimen procurement and processing, statistical and research design support, patient enrollment and follow-up, and investigator contributions to NIH-funded consortium research networks including the Immune Tolerance Network and the Clinical and Translational Science Centers. Work is performed at HSS in New York with administrative oversight and coordination rooted in the organization's research institutes and clinical divisions, including the Hospital for Special Surgery's Healthcare Research Institute and the Kathryn O. and Alan C. Greenberg Center for Skeletal Dysplasias. HSS Foundation's research capability centers on rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune disease immunology, musculoskeletal biology, orthopedic outcomes, health disparities in systemic lupus erythematosus, and advanced diagnostic imaging for bone and connective tissue disorders, with a secondary footprint in pediatric rehabilitation infrastructure.