Viscoelastic Properties of Normal and OA Chondrons
R01 AG015768 (Guilak)
07/15/2018-03/31/2023
NIH/NIA $385,007
The goal of this study is to determine the mechanical properties of the pericellular matrix of articular chondrocytes using micropipette aspiration and microindentation techniques.
Role: PI
Designer Stem Cells for Treating Chronic Diseases
The Nancy Taylor Foundation (Guilak)
09/01/2013 – 01/31/2020
$100,000
The goal of this project is to create a unique, customized cell type that can sense and respond to its biochemical environment in a pre-programmed way to provide long-term therapy for chronic diseases.
Role: PI
Obesity, Biomechanics, and Inflammation in Osteoarthritis
R01 AG046927 (Guilak)
07/15/2019-04/30/2024
NIH $220,000
The goal of this project is to examine the influence of dietary fatty acids on obesity-associated OA in mice, and to examine their interaction with altered biomechanical and pro-inflammatory cytokines using various in vivo and in vitro models.
Role: PI
Engineering New Biological Therapies for Arthritis
#6462 (Guilak)
01/01/2014-1/31/2020
Arthritis Foundation $92,593
The goal of this study is to expand the scope of ongoing research by incorporating cutting edge techniques in gene therapy and genome editing.
Role: PI
Intra-Articular Delivery of Sustained Release NF-kB Antagonists in Arthritis
R01 AR070975 (PI: Setton)
02/01/2017 – 01/31/2022
NIH/NIAMS $254,496
This study will develop a safe, sustained-release drug depot from silk, formulated specifically for small molecule antagonists of inflammation to be injected into the joint space. This work will establish a new strategy for the treatment of osteoarthritis that has potential to improve clinical utility for an entire class of inexpensive small molecule drugs that has a high likelihood of treating pathology or pain development in patients affected by osteoarthritis.
Role: Co-Investigator
Muscle Stem Cells reprogrammed Through Genome Engineering for Autonomously Regulated Anti-Fibrotic Therapy
R21 AR072870 (PI: Huard)
02/27/2018-01/31/2020
Steadman Philippon Research Institute via NIH Prime $49,196
The long term goal of the application is to demonstrate that genome engineering facilitated the rewiring of endogenous cell circuits in order to define prescribed input/output relationships between fibrotic mediators (TGF-1) and their antagonists (decorin), potentially providing a cell-based drug delivery via a rapidly responding, auto-regulated system. The customization of intrinsic cellular signaling pathways in therapeutic stem cell populations will open innovative possibilities for safer and more effective treatments applicable to a wide variety of muscle diseases and injuries.
Role: Co-Investigator
Regulation of Chondrogenesis by Long Non-Coding RNAs
R21 AR072193 (McAlinden)
04/01/2018-03/31/2020
NIH/NIAMS $110,000
The goals of this study are to determine the function and mechanism of specific human long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating chondrocyte differentiation and cartilage formation. LncRNAs are transcripts of greater than 200 nucleotides with no protein coding potential that can function to regulate gene expression or protein function to coordinate cellular processes critical for tissue-specific differentiation. While there is compelling data on the role of lncRNAs in other systems, there is a significant gap in our understanding of how lncRNAs function in cartilage biology.
Role: Co-Investigator
WU Rheumatic Diseases Resource-based Center
P30 AR073752 (Pham/Lenschow)
07/01/2018-06/30/2023
US NIH Salary Support Only
The overarching goal of the Washington University Rheumatic Diseases Research Reource-based Center (WU_RDRRC) is to advance research in rheumatic diseases by providing the infrastructure, resources and opportunities for multiple levels of inquiry and translating those discoveries into treatments for delivery to patients
Role: Genome Engineering Core Director
Resource Based Center for Musculoskeletal Biology and Medicine
P30 AR074992 (Silva)
04/01/2019- 03/31/2024
NIH/NIAMS $500,000
We will provide essential support for our Research Community to develop, implement and evaluate animal models for musculoskeletal biology and medicine, while fostering development of the next generation of musculoskeletal investigators. Our goal is to advance current knowledge to bridge gaps in our understanding of the cellular, molecular and functional basis of joint arthritis, and to develop and evaluate new therapeutic strategies.
Role: Investigator
Engineering Smart Cells for Arthritis Therapy
R61 AR076820
09/15/2019-09/14/2020
NIH/NIAMS $250,000
We propose to apply an innovative combination of principles from synthetic biology and genome engineering to create “smart” cells containing defined computational gene circuits that can sense and respond to their environment in a pre-programmed way.
Role: PI
Epigenetic Regulation of Chondrogenesis and Cartilage Development
K99 AR075899 (Wu)
07/01/2019-08/30/2021
NIH/NIAMS $83,424
The long-term goal of our proposed work is to unravel novel epigenetic mechanisms governing chondrocyte specification and cartilage development at the cellular and molecular levels.
Role: Sponsor
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Murine Digit Regeneration
F32 AR074895 (Qu)
02/01/2019-01/31/2021
NIH NIAMS $63,926
The objective of this project is to determine the spatiotemporal contribution and mechanism of activation of osteoblast lineage cells from the periosteum during murine digit regeneration.
Role: Sponsor
Piezo Channel Activation and Mechanotransduction in Chondrocytes
F32 AR074240 (Nims)
09/01/2018-08/31/2022
NIH NIAMS $63,310
The objective of this project is to characterize the mechanical activation of Piezo channels at the cellular and tissue level and the subsequent gene regulation initiated by Piezo activation. This work will develop a fundamental understanding of Piezo channels in chondrocyte mechanotransduction and the consequences of Piezo activation on gene expression for developing therapies to treat or prevent posttraumatic osteoarthritis.
Role: Sponsor
