Musculoskeletal Integrity Program

The Musculoskeletal Integrity Program's mission is to determine the biological, biochemical, and biomechanical mechanisms involved in musculoskeletal tissue development, degeneration, and repair, and to use that information to develop therapies to prevent or correct conditions in which these processes are impaired. As part of this mission, we mentor faculty and students in the scientific principles necessary to advance their careers in basic and applied orthopedic science. The Musculoskeletal Integrity Program encompasses four related research themes:

1. Bone Cell Biology and Imaging
2. Bone Mineralization, Regeneration, and Tissue Engineered Replacements
3. Skeletal Fragility: Mechanisms, Diagnosis, Management and Functional Performance
4. Skeletal Adaptation: Mechanisms and Mechanics of Resonse to Bone Load

To achieve these goals, fundamental and applied research is performed to study the metabolic, genetic, and injury-related changes that impact bone, and calcified cartilage development and repair. There are four laboratories within the program:

• Mineralized Tissue Research Laboratory [Adele Boskey, PhD]
• Arthroplasy Laboratory [Mathias Bostrom, MD]
• Bone Cell Biology and Imaging [Philipp Mayer-Kuckuk, PhD]
• Biomechanics and Biomaterials Laboratory [Timothy Wright, PhD]