Header Logo

John L. Hamilton

TitleAssistant Professor
InstitutionRush University, Rush Medical College
DepartmentOrthopedic Surgery
AddressChicago IL 60612
Email
ORCID ORCID Icon0000-0002-0716-9816 Additional info
vCardDownload vCard

    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    Rush Medical College, ChicagoPhD2018Biochemistry
    Rush Medical College, ChicagoMD2019Medicine
    University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, ILBS05/2010Biological Sciences (Honors and Department Distinction)
    Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, ILNIH T32 Postdoctoral Fellow09/2021Department of Orthopedic Surgery, 2019–2021
    Collapse awards and honors
    2026New Investigator Research Award Finalist (To mentee: Oike J.), Orthopaedic Research Society
    2026Jun Oike, MD, PhD — Best Oral Presentation Award, Japanese Orthopaedic Association 99th Annual Meeting (mentee), Japanese Orthopaedic Association
    2026Jun Oike, MD, PhD — Trainee Research Day Oral Presentation Award, Rush Medical College (mentee), Rush Medical College
    2026Jun Oike, MD, PhD — Selected Podium Presentation, SICOT Orthopaedic World Congress, Kyoto (mentee), SICOT
    2024ORS/OREF Travel Grant in Orthopaedic Research Translation, Orthopaedic Research Society
    2024New Investigator Research Award Finalist, Orthopaedic Research Society
    2024Sigma Xi Research Honor Society, Sigma Xi Research Honor Society
    2024Julia Fischer, MD — DAAD Research Scholarship (mentee), DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)
    2022Greta Della Fara, MS — Outstanding Thesis & Dissertation Award, UIC Biomedical Engineering (mentee), University of Illinois at Chicago
    2021New Investigator Research Award Finalist, Orthopaedic Research Society
    2018Dean’s Award for Leadership and Student Service, Rush Graduate College
    2018Medical Staff Scholarship, Rush Graduate College
    20161st Place, Graduate College Student Council Award, Annual Rush Research Forum
    20152nd Place, Sigma Xi Award, Annual Rush Research Forum
    2010Honors and Department Distinction in Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview
    John L. Hamilton, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Rush University Medical Center. His research program focuses on advancing the prevention and treatment of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), with an emphasis on biofilm-targeted therapeutics — including monoclonal antibody therapies and electrophoretically deposited (EPD) antimicrobial implant coatings — that address fundamental barriers to infection eradication.

    Dr. Hamilton earned his MD and PhD in Biochemistry from Rush Medical College, where his NIH F31 (F31 AR070002)–supported doctoral work defined VEGF-driven mechanisms of joint degeneration and pain. He subsequently completed NIH T32 (T32 AR073157) postdoctoral training at Rush University Medical Center, focused on innate immune pathways and their pharmacologic modulation in implant-associated infection.

    He leads a translational laboratory that integrates murine models of PJI and osseointegration, antibody-based biofilm-disruption strategies, mRNA-encoded antimicrobial proteins, and advanced imaging and analytic technologies to define how bacteria persist on orthopedic implants and how those infections can be more effectively targeted. He is co-inventor on multiple patents relating to anti-biofilm coatings and electrophoretic-deposition strategies for orthopedic implants. His broader immunology work examines immune-cell and vascular responses to pharmacologic agents in inflammatory disease.

    Dr. Hamilton serves as a Delegate to the International Consensus Meeting on Musculoskeletal Infection and co-leads the Rush Musculoskeletal Infection Research Interest Group. His program has been supported by NIH F31, T32, and R21 (NIAMS R21 AR084167) funding; an NCATS UL1 pilot through the Institute for Translational Medicine; the Rush Translational Sciences Consortium (Searle Program); the Orthopaedic Research Society and the Orthopaedic Research & Education Foundation (ORS/OREF Translation Travel Grant, 2024); and industry partners including Clarametyx Biosciences.

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse research activities and funding
    Rush Translational Sciences Consortium / Searle Pr     (Hamilton JL (Co-Investigator))Apr 1, 2025 - Mar 31, 2026
    Rush Translational Sciences Consortium
    Targeting PJI via the Application of mRNA-encoded Lysostaphin
    Role: Co-Investigator
    NIH/NIAMS R21 AR084167     (Hamilton JL)May 22, 2024 - Apr 30, 2026
    NIH/NIAMS
    Use of Bacterial Biofilm Disrupting Antibodies to Prevent and Treat Periprosthetic Joint Infection
    Role: PI
    Clarametyx Biosciences (Industry)     (Hamilton JL)Apr 1, 2024 - Apr 30, 2025
    Clarametyx Biosciences
    Preclinical Evaluation of CMTX-101 (Anti-Biofilm Monoclonal Antibody) for PJI
    Role: PI
    ITM Pilot (NIH NCATS UL1 TR002389)     (Hamilton JL)May 1, 2022 - May 31, 2023
    NIH/NCATS
    Utilization of N3C to Evaluate Dexmedetomidine Use and Mortality in COVID-19
    Role: PI
    NIH/NIAMS T32 AR073157     (Hamilton JL)Sep 1, 2019 - Sep 30, 2020
    NIH/NIAMS
    Post-Doctoral Training in Joint Health
    Role: Postdoctoral Scholar
    NIH/NIAMS F31 AR070002     (Hamilton JL)Jul 1, 2016 - Jun 30, 2018
    NIH/NIAMS
    Anti-VEGF Therapy in Osteoarthritis and Associated Pain
    Role: PI (predoctoral)

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Oral E, Chisari E, Choe H, Cichos KH, Coenye T, Coraça-Huber DC, Drago L, Hamilton JL, et al. The 2025 International Consensus Meeting on Musculoskeletal Infection: research priorities and future directions. J Orthop Res. 2026; 44(1):e70179. View Publication.
    2. Muthukrishnan G, Coraça-Huber DC, Atkins GJ, et al., Hamilton JL, et al. 2025 ICM on Musculoskeletal Infection: summary from the biofilm workgroup on biofilm formation, persistence, and host-environment interactions. J Orthop Res. 2026; 44(1):e70130.
    3. Jennings JA, Abdelbary H, Abdulla FS, et al., Hamilton JL, et al. 2025 ICM on Musculoskeletal Infection: summary from the biofilm workgroup on treatment of biofilm-related infection and preclinical models. J Orthop Res. 2026; 44(1):e70169.
    4. Fischer J, Hall DJ, Moran MM, Markovics A, Pennekamp PH, Hamilton JL, Wimmer MA. Antibacterial Electrophoretically Loaded Titania Nanotubes on Titanium Alloy Implants Enhance Osseointegration. Pathogens. 2025 Oct 22; 14(11). PMID: 41305310; PMCID: PMC12655275.
      Citations:    
    5. Hamilton JL, Gianotti S, Fischer J, Della Fara G, Impergre A, De Vecchi F, AbuAlia M, Fischer A, Markovics A, Wimmer MA. Electrophoretic Deposition of Gentamicin Into Titania Nanotubes Prevents Evidence of Infection in a Mouse Model of Periprosthetic Joint Infection. J Orthop Res. 2025 Mar; 43(3):671-681. PMID: 39741387; PMCID: PMC11970704.
      Citations:    
    6. Hamilton JL, Baccile R, Best TJ, Desai P, Landay A, Rojas JC, Wimmer MA, Balk RA. Association between Dexmedetomidine Use and Mortality in Patients with COVID-19 Receiving Invasive Mechanical Ventilation: A U.S. National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) Study. J Clin Med. 2024 Jun 12; 13(12). PMID: 38929961; PMCID: PMC11204330.
      Citations:    
    7. Jennings JA, Arts JJ, Abuhussein E, Alt V, Ashton N, Baertl S, Bhattacharyya S, Cain JD, Dintakurthi Y, Ducheyne P, Duffy H, Falconer R, Gautreaux M, Gianotti S, Hamilton JL, Hylen A, van Hoogstraten S, Libos A, Markovics A, Mdingi V, Montgomery EC, Morgenstern M, Obremskey W, Priddy LB, Tate J, Ren Y, Ricciardi B, Tucker LJ, Weeks J, Vanvelk N, Williams D, Xie C, Hickok N, Schwarz EM, Fintan Moriarty T. 2023 International Consensus Meeting on musculoskeletal infection: Summary from the treatment workgroup and consensus on treatment in preclinical models. J Orthop Res. 2024 03; 42(3):500-511. PMID: 38069631.
      Citations:    
    8. Hamilton JL, Wimmer MA, Markovics A, Schmid TM. Coating of medical and implant biomaterials with an anti-biofilm agent to prevent and treat infection. 2023.
    9. Hamilton JL, Wimmer MA, Markovics A, Della Fara G. Utilization of electrophoretic deposition to coat medical implants with therapeutic agents in a sterile clinical setting. 2023.
    10. Della Fara G, Markovics A, Radice S, Hamilton JL, Chiesa R, Sturm A, Angenendt K, Fischer A, Wimmer MA. Electrophoretic deposition of gentamicin and chitosan into titanium nanotubes to target periprosthetic joint infection. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater. 2023 09; 111(9):1697-1704. PMID: 37194725.
      Citations:    
    11. Hamilton JL, Wimmer MA. Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists to reduce mortality and improve outcomes in viral respiratory syndromes. 2022.
    12. Hamilton JL, Vashi M, Kishen EB, Fogg LF, Wimmer MA, Balk RA. The Association of an Alpha-2 Adrenergic Receptor Agonist and Mortality in Patients With COVID-19. Front Med (Lausanne). 2021; 8:797647. PMID: 35059419.
      Citations:    
    13. Shekhawat VK, Hamilton JL, Pacione CA, Schmid TM, Wimmer MA. A MOVING CONTACT OF ARTICULATION ENHANCES THE BIOSYNTHETIC AND FUNCTIONAL RESPONSES OF ARTICULAR CARTILAGE. Biotribology (Oxf). 2021 Jun; 26. PMID: 33898693.
      Citations:    
    14. Hamilton JL, Mohamed MF, Witt BR, Wimmer MA, Shafikhani SH. Therapeutic assessment of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) in reducing periprosthetic joint infection. Eur Cell Mater. 2021; 42:122-138.
    15. Hamilton JL, Li J, Levine BR, Chen D. Encyclopedia of Bone Biology. Elsevier. Cartilage repair techniques. 2020. View Publication.
    16. Hamilton JL, Levine BR. The Adult Knee, 2nd ed. Wolters Kluwer. Knee arthritis: pathology and progression. 2020.
    17. Hamilton JL. The role and inhibition of VEGF in osteoarthritis and associated pain. PhD dissertation, Rush University Medical Center. 2018.
    18. Nagao M, Hamilton JL, Kc R, Berendsen AD, Duan X, Cheong CW, Li X, Im HJ, Olsen BR. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Cartilage Development and Osteoarthritis. Sci Rep. 2017 10 12; 7(1):13027. PMID: 29026147.
      Citations:    
    19. Zhang Z, Yi D, Xie R, Hamilton JL, Kang QL, Chen D. Postaxial limb hypoplasia (PALH): the classification, clinical features, and related developmental biology. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2017 12; 1409(1):67-78. PMID: 28990185; PMCID: PMC5730483.
      Citations:    
    20. Zhou Y, Wang T, Hamilton JL, Chen D. Wnt/?-catenin Signaling in Osteoarthritis and in Other Forms of Arthritis. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2017 Sep; 19(9):53. PMID: 28752488; PMCID: PMC5672801.
      Citations:    
    21. Chen D, Shen J, Zhao W, Wang T, Han L, Hamilton JL, Im HJ. Osteoarthritis: toward a comprehensive understanding of pathological mechanism. Bone Res. 2017; 5:16044. PMID: 28149655; PMCID: PMC5240031.
      Citations:    
    22. Kroin JS, Kc R, Li X, Hamilton JL, Das V, van Wijnen AJ, Dall OM, Shelly DA, Kenworth T, Im HJ. Intraarticular slow-release triamcinolone acetate reduces allodynia in an experimental mouse knee osteoarthritis model. Gene. 2016 Oct 10; 591(1):1-5. PMID: 27356303.
      Citations:    
    23. Hamilton JL, Nagao M, Levine BR, Chen D, Olsen BR, Im HJ. Targeting VEGF and Its Receptors for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis and Associated Pain. J Bone Miner Res. 2016 05; 31(5):911-24. PMID: 27163679.
      Citations:    
    24. Kc R, Li X, Kroin JS, Liu Z, Chen D, Xiao G, Levine B, Li J, Hamilton JL, van Wijnen AJ, Piel M, Shelly DA, Brass D, Kolb E, Im HJ. PKCd null mutations in a mouse model of osteoarthritis alter osteoarthritic pain independently of joint pathology by augmenting NGF/TrkA-induced axonal outgrowth. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016 Dec; 75(12):2133-2141. PMID: 26783110.
      Citations:    
    25. Kim JS, Ahmadinia K, Li X, Hamilton JL, Andrews S, Haralampus CA, Xiao G, Sohn HM, You JW, Seo YS, Stein GS, Van Wijnen AJ, Kim SG, Im HJ. Development of an Experimental Animal Model for Lower Back Pain by Percutaneous Injury-Induced Lumbar Facet Joint Osteoarthritis. J Cell Physiol. 2015 Nov; 230(11):2837-47. PMID: 25858171.
      Citations:    
    26. Kim JS, Ali MH, Wydra F, Li X, Hamilton JL, An HS, Cs-Szabo G, Andrews S, Moric M, Xiao G, Wang JH, Chen D, Cavanaugh JM, Im HJ. Characterization of degenerative human facet joints and facet joint capsular tissues. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2015 Dec; 23(12):2242-2251. PMID: 26117175.
      Citations:    
    27. Gu SX, Li X, Hamilton JL, Chee A, Kc R, Chen D, An HS, Kim JS, Oh CD, Ma YZ, van Wijnen AJ, Im HJ. MicroRNA-146a reduces IL-1 dependent inflammatory responses in the intervertebral disc. Gene. 2015 Jan 25; 555(2):80-7. PMID: 25311550.
      Citations:    
    28. Ross RD, Hamilton JL, Wilson BM, Sumner DR, Virdi AS. Pharmacologic augmentation of implant fixation in osteopenic bone. Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2014; 12(1):55-64.
    Hamilton's Networks
    Click the
    Explore
    buttons for more information and interactive visualizations!
    Concepts (117)
    Explore
    _
    Co-Authors (9)
    Explore
    _
    Similar People (60)
    Explore
    _
    Same Department Expand Description
    Explore
    _