The foundation chair in Orthopaedics and Traumatic Surgery at the University of Sydney was taken-up by Professor Thomas Taylor, in 1969, who with his colleagues have established an international reputation for spinal surgery and disc research within the Department of Orthopaedics at the Royal North Shore Hospital. In October 2001, Professor Taylor retired from the University of Sydney and Professor David Sonnabend took-up the University chair and Head of the Department of Orthopaedics at the Royal North Shore Hospital.

The first Australian-based chair in Rheumatology, the Florance and Cope Chair, was established at the Royal North Shore Hospital in 1983 and its present incumbent, Professor Philip Sambrook, is an international authority on osteoporosis and is responsible for a major research program on the role of genes in this disease and osteoarthritis.

The Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratories was established by a benefactor in 1973 and is currently directed by A/Professor Chris Little.

The Sutton Arthritis Research Laboratories, opened in 1968, and between 1979 - 1999 was directed by A/Professor Les Schrieber. A/Professor Schrieber and A/Professor Chris Jackson led the team which first developed laboratory methods for growing blood capillaries from joints. This methodology has facilitated advances in new ways of preventing joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis. In 1999, A/Professor Chris Jackson was appointed director of the Sutton Arthritis Laboratories.

The C Murray Maxwell Biomechanics Laboratories is currently directed by Dr Richard Appleyard