In the late 1970’s, Newton McCullough, MD, was the chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at the University of Miami and Charles Weiss, MD, was chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, FL. Both had strong interests and track records in research, particularly biomechanical research. Loren Latta had been developing a biomechanical research program with the University of Miami since 1972 and had worked on some projects with Dr. Weiss. In an effort to join forces to further Orthopaedic research, the 3 of them signed an agreement between UM and Mount Sinai to establish “The University of Miami, Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory at Mount Sinai” (UMOBLMS). Edward (Ted) Milne, BSc, was hired to work with Latta on the biomechanics side and help Jose Suros, the pathology technician, with the histology and biochemistry laboratory operations at the Mount Sinai, Pearlman Research Building.

In the mid 1970’s Loren Latta, Lutz Biedermann, Alan Finnieston were working together with orthotics for the upper and lower limbs and spine. The developments in spinal orthotics were guided by Spine surgeons, Newton Collough and Harry Shufflebarger and Juergen Harms in Germany. Together they developed the Moss-Miami spinal system which was very successful.

Lutz Biedermann’s company wanted to have a testing partner in the US for their spinal instrument development and the UMOBLMS was capable and convenient for the surgeons.

After many years of success with spinal implant and orthotics businesses, Lutz Biedermann wanted to create a way to do research with no tie to financial gain for anyone. Lutz negotiated with the University of Miami and with Mount Sinai, to establish The Max Biedermann Institute for Biomechanics (MBI) in Miami, Florida, named for his grandfather, Max Biedermann, a pioneer in the field of prosthetics and orthotics. Lutz signed the first contract with Mount Sinai in 2002. MBI bought new equipment, expanded our “University of Miami, Biomechanics Laboratories at Mount Sinai” and had opportunities to do research with local surgeons, mostly at UM, with no ties to industry. 

MBI was founded as a center for research dedicated to the investigation of new medical procedures, both surgical and non-surgical, that will improve the quality of life for people with injuries or degenerative conditions of the musculoskeletal system as well as improvements in the field of biomechanics relating to new or existing medical procedures.