Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Following my post-doctoral training, I worked in the pharmaceutical industry, first at Osiris Therapeutics, then at Pharmacia and Pfizer, where I was involved in the identification of therapeutic targets and the discovery of drugs for various inflammatory diseases. After my long standing employment in industry for 13 years, motivated by the purpose of bridging basic and translational research, I joined Washington University School of Medicine in 2010. Considered by many as a risky transition, I was able to independently establish original lines of research on bone pathophysiology and secure stable funding from the NIH since 2013.
My NIH-funded research focuses on the regulation of skeletal cells by immune cells. I specifically investigate the effects of inflammasome-mediated responses in myeloid cells on bone cell differentiation, with a focus on osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. Inflammasomes not only induce the secretion of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18, but also trigger the lytic cell death known as pyroptosis, which has unknown actions on bone. Leveraging my past experience in industry, I employ pharmacological and genetic tools in my research inquiry, with the goal of translating my discoveries in animals to human pathophysiology, and ultimately, help the design of therapeutic strategies for skeletal diseases. I have not only been a Principal Investigator, but also Co-Principal Investigator of several NIH-funded grants.
Inflammasomes Regulating Bone Resorption
Saturday, November 16, 2024
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM Eastern Time
Disclosure(s): Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc: Consultant (Ongoing), Stock options or bond holdings in a for-profit corporation or self-directed pension plan (Ongoing)