Rhima Coleman, PhD

Research Description

Dr. Coleman studies the effects of proteoglycan structure on cartilage calcification in cellular and acellular systems in vitro. Her research at HSS focuses on examining the fine structure of aggrecan during chondrocyte maturation and terminal differentiation to gain a better understanding of how chondrocytes control their local environment.  This has critical importance in diseases such as osteoarthritis where this pathway is pathologically recapitulated. Techniques include various 3D models of stem cell tissue culture, qRT-PCR, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and protein analysis using SDS-PAGE/Western blot and immunohistochemistry.

Dr. Coleman is also comparing the bone tissue level properties of mouse models of osteogenesis imperfecta in an effort to investigate the interactions between the major components of bone tissue and the defects in these interactions that manifests as bone fragility. Techniques include Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging, x-ray diffraction, and microcomputed tomography.

Selected Awards

• National Research Service Award, NIH/NIAMS, 2009-2012

Education

PhD, Bioengineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2007
MS, Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004
BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, 1999

Appointments

Postdoctoral Fellow, Mineralized Tissues Laboratory, Hospital for Special Surgery

Publications

• Adele Boskey and Rhima Coleman. “Aging and Bone”. J of Dent Res, 2010 Dec; 89(12):1333-48. PMID: 20924069
• Rhima M. Coleman, Jennifer E. Phillips, Angela Lin, Zvi Schwartz, Barbara D. Boyan, and Robert E. Guldberg.  “Characterization of a Small Animal Growth Plate Injury Model Using Microcomputed Tomography.”   Bone. 2010 June; 46(6):1555–63. PMID: 20176156
• Rhima Coleman, Natasha Case, Robert Guldberg.  “Hydrogel Effects on Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Response to Chondrogenic Growth Factors.”  Biomaterials. 2007 Apr; 28(12):2077-86. PMID: 17257670
• Robert Guldberg, Lin A, Rhima Coleman, Galen Robertson, Craig Duvall.  “Microcomputed Tomography Imaging of Skeletal Development and Growth.” Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today. 2004 Sep; 72(3):250-9. PMID: 15495187