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Laboratory of Molecular Osteoarthritis Research

Our goal is to understand the altered signaling pathways that prompt joint tissue disruption in osteoarthritis (OA).

We are using comprehensive state-of-the-art approaches to define knee OA patient subtypes, assess how different joint tissues contribute to OA disease, and test non-surgical therapies. Our models span cell-based approaches, in vivo systems, and analyses of clinical information and retrieved tissues from patients. We believe that the combined information obtained from these models will improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms that lead to disease onset and progression, and will allow us to test targeted approaches with potential therapeutic application.

We use this information to:

  • Study OA as a whole joint disorder, with emphasis in understanding the contribution of the infrapatellar fat pad to disease onset and progression
  • Define patient subtypes aiming to develop predictive platforms to identify good candidates for non-surgical treatments or patients who are at risk of developing poor surgical outcomes
  • Uncover distinct cellular and molecular signatures associated with structural damage and knee fibrosis and stiffness, and target these signatures to modify disease progression