Mentor Areas
Bone disorders exact a considerable toll on human health in both children and adults. The Long lab seeks to understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying both normal skeletal development and the pathophysiology of bone diseases. Examples of current research include studies of skeletal stem cells and progenitors, metabolic regulation of bone cells, and the integration of bone and whole-body metabolism.
Description:
Skeletal diseases, ranging from congenital dysplasia to osteosarcoma to osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, take a significant toll on human health. The overarching goal of our research is to discover key steps in the molecular or metabolic regulation of skeletal cell differentiation or function, with the hope of uncovering therapeutic targets for treating the various skeletal diseases. Many of our studies have centered around the role and mechanism of key developmental signals such as Hh, Wnt, Notch and Bmp in regulating skeletal development and homeostasis. Through mouse genetic studies, we have defined specific functions of the developmental signals in bone and cartilage cell differentiation. Our molecular and biochemical studies have led to the discovery that the developmental signals alter cell fate and activity in part through reprograming of the cellular metabolism of major energy substrates. Recently, the lab has identified cell-intrinsic disruption of glucose metabolism as a pathogenic basis for osteoarthritis and diabetic osteopenia. In other projects, we combine single-cell sequencing technology with genetic lineage-tracing or functional studies to identify skeletal stem/progenitor cells in the mouse, and to examine their contribution to bone maintenance or pathology.
Projects will vary. Interested students should contact us to discuss possibilities.
Preferred Qualifications
Background in molecular biology and cell biology is preferred.
Details:
Preferred Student Year
Second-Year, Junior, Senior
Academic Term
Fall, Spring, Summer
I prefer to have students start during the above term(s).Volunteer
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to volunteers.Paid
No
Yes indicates that faculty are open to paying students they engage in their research, regardless of their work-study eligibility.Work Study
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to hiring work-study-eligible students.