Basic Science Research

UMass Medical School Research Growth
 
  • 39th NIH Research Funding ($170 million)
  • Major Research Facilities
    • Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Park (75,000 sqft)
    • Brudnick Neuropyschiatric Research Institute (50,000 sqft)
    • Aaron Lazare Research Building (360,000 sqft
    • UMass Medical School Laboratories
  • Internationally Recognized Bone Basic Science Research: Drs Jane Lian, Gary Stein
  • New 7 Story Clinical and Translational Research Building
  • Massachusetts Stem Cell Center and RNAi Therapy Center in 2008


Department of Orthopedics Full-time Research Faculty

Paul FPaul Fanning, PhD Basic/Translational

(research page)

Cartilage Basic Science Research
  • Mechanical Models of Arthritis
  • Mechanical Force and Signaling Pathways in Cartilage Molecular
  • Mechanisms of OA Progression
The overall goal of this project is to advance the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of osteoarthritis (OA) progression through the novel finding that mechanical force activates critical cellular-signaling pathways in cartilage.  A primary goal proposed here is the analysis of the outcomes of these signaling events on the expression and activities of certain degradative enzymes (matrix metalloproteinases, MMPs), which are known to be the major effectors of OA.

 


PFPatricia Franklin, MD Clinical/Population

(research page)

Research Focus


  • Biopsychosocial predictors of functional outcome, cost, and utilization in chronic musculoskeletal conditions
  • Role of physical activity and self-care in functional outcome
  • eHealth interventions to support self-care and tertiary prevention in aging, chronic disease populations
Dr Frankin is director of clinical and outcomes research and a member of the core faculty of the PhD in Clinical and Population Health Research. She has extensive experience in the analysis and interpretation of clinical and outcome data and is particularly interested in post-total joint replacement functional gains. With her colleagues, she has conducted a series of funded studies to evaluate the contribution of the patient’s physical and emotional health and daily activity to long-term function after total knee replacement (TKR), Medicare’s highest volume procedure. She currently serves as Principal Investigator on an NIH-funded RO1 to design and evaluate a program to enhance patient adherence to optimal levels of home exercise and physical activity in the TKR rehabilitation period. Dr. Franklin’s eHealth research includes a multi-site RCT testing the efficacy of brief emails to facilitate diet and physical activity change (funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health e-Technologies Initiative). Recently the RWJF funded her team to transform population data into web-based outcome prediction tools that will allow patients and physicians to anticipate individualized functional gains after TKR. She is also collaborating in the development of technology for patients to monitor and trend pain and function in personal and electronic health records. While her research focuses on patients with advanced knee arthritis and TKR, each of these eHealth interventions can be extrapolated to self-care in the aging adult.

 



Jane LianJane Lian, PhD (Cell Biology)

(research page)

2006 William Neuman Award Winner

Cancer Cell Biology in The Bone Microenvironment

Cancer cells cause destruction of the bone, resulting in fractures and severe pain.  Understanding the mechanisms which induce metastasis of the primary cancer cell to the bone environment needs to be addressed.  We have identified high expression levels of the Runx2 transcription factor in metastatic breast and prostate cancer cell lines.  Runx target genes in the cancer cell include the entire class of matrix metalloproteinases characterized for their role in tissue invasion, the vascular endothelial growth factor, a potent angiogenic factor involved as a primary event in tumor growth and several cell growth and osteoblastic genes expressed in the bone environment that allow for tumor growth (Pratap et al., 2005).  The cancer cell responds to TGFb and BMP growth factors in the bone extracellular matrix and stimulates bone resorbing cells.  In recent studies, we have shown metastatic cancer cell lines in which Runx2 activity has been blocked through genetic mutations, that the osteolytic disease of breast cancer cells can be prevented in the mouse (Barnes et al., 2004; Javed et al., 2005). The presence of mutant Runx2 protein in metastatic cells inhibits cell invasion (in vitro assays) and genes associated with tumor growth.  We are now turning our attention to mechanisms responsible for activation of Runx2 in the primary tumor that would lead to the metastatic event in vivo.  Experimental approaches include generation of human cancer cell lines with mutants of Runx2, assessing tumor growth by in vivo imaging of tumors in breast, prostate and bone tissues, and examining gene expression profiles of the tumors are assayed.

 



JieSJie Song, PhD Basic/Translational

 (research page)

 Synthetic extracellular matrix analogs for guiding the repair and regeneration of musculoskeletal tissues

With a growing and aging population, the demand for synthetic grafts assisting the repair and reconstruction of musculoskeletal tissue defects induced by trauma, aging, cancer and metabolic diseases is quickly rising. Our lab is interested in designing synthetic extracellular matrix (ECM) analogs capable of promoting the repair or guiding the regeneration of musculoskeletal tissues. These synthetic constructs are also programmed with unique physical properties to facilitate surgical handling (e.g. deployable, elastic, injectable) and proper in vivo degradation characteristics.

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