Mentor Areas
- Orthopedic Pathology
- Translational Large Animal Models of Disease
- Regenerative Medicine
Description:
My research program is focused on understanding the pathophysiology of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) and developing regenerative medicine therapies, including signal, gene, and cell-based therapies, to help regenerate cartilage and prevent the development of PTOA following joint injury. Due to the robust similarities between horse and human cartilage and joint biomechanics, we use the horse as a model for human disease. Osteoarthritis is a widespread, debilitating disease that currently lacks any effective disease-modifying treatments. Cartilage injury is a driver of PTOA due to the poor innate healing capabilities of the avascular and aneural tissue. Additionally, joint injury can lead to an overwhelming inflammatory response in the joint that continues to drive degeneration of articular cartilage. I am interested in optimizing cartilage repair and joint immunomodulation using mesenchymal stem cells, extracellular vesicles, nanoparticles, and gene therapy-based intra-articular therapies. Due to my specialized training in equine orthopedic surgery and PhD in equine joint disease, I am uniquely positioned to carry out translational musculoskeletal research in a large animal model. As a PI or co-investigator on several private-, industry-, and NIH-funded grants, I have successfully completed many projects which have resulted in more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, 12 book chapters, and 7 invited reviews. I have also had numerous opportunities to disseminate my work at national and international meetings including abstract presentations and invited podium presentations. I am deeply committed to pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training. I have trained 8 post-doctoral fellows in my lab and have been involved in the training of 8 pre-doctoral students. I have also mentored more than 10 undergraduate and veterinary medicine students. The translational musculoskeletal research performed in my lab is essential for improving prevention strategies and treatment options for osteoarthritis and provides an ideal environment for students interested in large animal models of orthopedic disease.
Preferred Qualifications
None.
Project Website
Learn more about the researcher and/or the project here. Faculty Profile
Details:
Preferred Student Year
First-year, Second-Year, Junior, Senior
Academic Term
Summer
I prefer to have students start during the above term(s).Volunteer
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to volunteers.Paid
Yes
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.