Cartilage Biology & Osteoarthritis

BIOGRAPHY

ACADEMIC POSITIONS:
• Associate Professor, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario
• Research Chair, Musculoskeletal Health, University of Western Ontario

EDUCATION:
• PhD, University of Erlangen-Nurnberg
• Dip. of Biology, University of Erlangen-Nurnberg

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
One focus of the lab is the role of intracellular signaling pathways in chondrocytes. We have demonstrated important functions for signaling molecules of the Rho GTPAse and MAP kinase families in the control of chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation. A second line of investigations addresses the roles of extracellular regulators such as glucocorticoids and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) on cartilage development. The third project utilizes microarrays, bioinformatics and promoter analyses to study patterns of gene expression in chondroyctes.