The Skeletal Biotech Lab conducts research on skeletal tissue engineering by using adult stem cell–based and gene therapy approaches, with the goal to develop innovative biological tools for organ/tissue repair.   

It is our aim to select and converge scientific knowledge and technologies from the fields of biotechnology, molecular & micro imaging, and nanotechnology to pave the way to the clinical application of a platform for skeletal tissue engineering.

To do this we take fresh purified human mesenchymal stem cells and genetically modify them to express the specific genes controlling differentiation into bone, cartilage, tendon/ligaments, and the intervertebral disc––all integral to the promotion of skeletal regeneration.

We currently make use of state-of-the-art immunoisolation techniques, nonviral protocols for gene transfer, in vivo and ex vivo electroporation for gene delivery, nanostructured scaffolds, nanoscale analysis, nanobiomechanics, and various molecular & micro imaging technologies – micro magnetic resonance imaging (uMRI), micro–computerized tomography (uCT), micro optical imaging including: in vivo bioluminescence & fluorescence, fibered confocal fluorescence microscopy and nuclear imaging (micro PET and SPECT) –– for quantitative and noninvasive imaging and monitoring of gene expression. Our ongoing efforts concentrate on advancing our adult stem cell–based skeletal regeneration platform toward its clinical use, especially for the treatment of spine disorders.