We are passionate about bone research! Our goal is to understand why bones break in different conditions such as aging and cancer. The findings will identify new targets to prevent fractures and generate specific treatment recommendations for physicians, patients, and caregivers.

Research

Osteoimmuno-oncology approach for targeting Metastatic Bone Disease (MBD)

MBD is a prevalent and incurable complication in more than two thirds of patients with advanced solid malignancies. The dynamic and multi-directional interactions between bone, immune, and tumor cells can alter bone extracellular matrix (ECM) quality, influence fragility, and affect response to therapy. We are developing in vitro and in vivo approaches to understand the mechanisms of immune-mediated bone remodeling and skeletal fragility in MBD.

Oncological treatment effects on bone quality and fracture risk.

Treatment options for bone metastases are palliative and patients suffer pathological fractures within months of receiving therapy. Clinicopathologic characteristics can estimate the probability of response from combination therapies, and biomarkers can provide local information on tumor burden, help identify patients at risk for skeletal related events, and predict treatment benefit. Using patient-derived samples and animal models, we are actively assessing the longitudinal effects of oncological treatments on bone architecture, composition, and fracture risk.

Bone regeneration - Growing a garden in a toxic swamp

The bone micro-environment plays a critical role in tumor metastasis. The mechanisms by which ECM modifications arise and influence remodeling leading to pathological fractures are not well understood. Through active collaboration, we are refining techniques to isolate pathogenic cells from the bone micro-environment and determine the influence of ECM modifications on bone regeneration and the subsequent impact on mechanical properties.