Dr. Bryan Cunningham is a world-renowned preclinical spinal surgeon and neuroscientist with more than 35 years of experience translating breakthrough orthopedic technologies from concept to clinic. He has performed over 8,000 complex operative procedures in diverse preclinical models, authored 135+ peer-reviewed papers, and earned 24 major research awards, including two NASS Basic Science Awards and the Volvo Award in Low-Back-Pain Research.

At Endpoint Preclinical, Bryan leverages this surgical mastery to craft end-to-end evidence programs—designing rigorous protocols, executing GLP and non-GLP studies, and guiding sponsors through FDA Q-Submissions and panel meetings. His deep procedural repertoire and model-building expertise ensure precise endpoint alignment and defensible safety-and-efficacy data for regulatory approval and market adoption.

• Advanced Spine Surgery & Instrumentation: 8,000+ procedures encompassing cervical and lumbar arthrodesis, arthroplasty, corpectomy, laminectomy, annular repair, ACL reconstruction models, dynamic stabilization, pedicle-screw constructs, and neurotoxicity models.
• Orthopedic & Long-Bone Models: Extensive experience with bone-void defects, joint reconstruction, osseointegration studies, and biomechanical fixation across multiple preclinical models.
• Model Development & Validation: Creator of the ASTM F1717 Corpectomy Model and the FDA-adopted epidural wear-debris model; pioneer of spine paradigms for fusion, motion preservation, and biomaterial evaluation.
• Preclinical Program Leadership & GLP Execution: Designs pilot-through-pivotal studies, directs > 100 GLP projects, and authors comprehensive final reports that withstand global regulatory review.
• Biomechanics & Multimodal Imaging: Integrates custom multi-directional flexibility testing, micro-CT, radiography, fluoroscopy, and MRI to quantify fusion, kinematics, and implant osseointegration.
• Regulatory Strategy & Thought Leadership: Frequent advisor in FDA Q-Sub and panel settings; active member of NASS, ORS, SRS, and Eurospine; trains FDA reviewers and industry engineers on best-practice spine models and endpoints.

Having participated in the development of spinal instrumentation and technological progression from simple fusion constructs to biologic, motion-preserving systems, Bryan knows surgical innovation succeeds only when matched by equally innovative preclinical science. He approaches every project as a bridge-builder—aligning surgeons, engineers, biologists, and regulators around carefully chosen models, endpoints, and timelines. Steadfast, multidisciplinary research, he believes, is the optimal path to safer surgeries and improved quality of life for patients with musculoskeletal pathology.

Experimental Design
Surgical
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Reporting
Interpretation
Regulatory & Compliance
Risk Assessment
Product Development
Training

Fluoroscopy
Micro-CT
Radiography
MRI
Biomechanics