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UCLA Orthopaedic Surgery

UCLA Orthopaedic Surgery
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UCLA Orthopaedic Surgery

Research Faculty

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Research Faculty

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Karen Lyons, PhD
Professor and Vice Chair of Research
Research Interest: Growth Factor Signaling in Mammalian Development and Disease.

Publications >

 

Edward Embramzadeh, PhD
Adjunct Professor
Research Interest: Biomechanical design, development and evaluation of implants, including joint replacement prostheses, fracture fixation devices and related instrumentation. Implant performance evaluation and implant failure analysis using benchtop models (cadaver or artificial composite models), retrieved implants, computational models and patient outcome data. Design, development and validation of biomechanical models and apparatuses for simulation of musculoskeletal loads and kinematics. Measurement of implant loosening, wear, micromotion, fretting and corrosion. Evaluation of surgical procedures for deformity correction, including spine deformity and clubfoot. Evaluation of biomaterials for wear, tribology, biodegradation, and biocompatibility.

Publications >

 

John Adams, MD
Distinguished Professor
Research Interest: research focuses on basic and translational aspects of vitamin D synthesis, metabolism and molecular mode of action.

Publications >

 

Maria Grazia-Ascenzi, PhD
Researcher and Adjunct Professor
Research Interest: Hierarchical simulation of bone tissue for clinical applications, bone micro-mechanics, growth plate micro-specifications, high resolution imaging of biological tissues, three-dimensional simulation of bone micro-structures, three-dimensional reconstruction from imaging stacks, and application of mathematics to investigations of biological tissue function are the main research interests.

Publications >

 

Paul Bajaj, PhD
Senate Emeritus and Recall Professor
Research Interest: Proteases in hemostasis and thrombosis.

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Paul Benya, PhD
Recall Adjunct Professor
Research Interest: Current focus is on identifying the signal transduction mechanisms of TGF-β1 and BMP in chondrocytes and their stem cell precursors, as well as the control of extracellular matrix synthesis and deposition.

Publications >

 

Nicholas Bernthal, MD
Associate Professor, Interim Chair and Executive Medical Director of Orthopaedic Surgery
Research Interest: Bone and soft tissue tumors, implant design, infection immunology, and antimicrobial coatings.

Publications >

 

Fabrizio Billi, PhD
Adjunct Professor
Research Interest: Evaluation of the degradation products of materials used in musculoskeletal implants and their impact on the patient’s health. Current focus is on the recovery and characterization of nanoparticles generated by the wear of orthopedic joint replacements and consequent evaluation of their local and systemic biological effects.

Publications >

 

Rene Chun

Rene F. Chun, PhD
Researcher
Current projects examine regulation of vitamin D action and MSC to bone differentiation.

Publications >

 

Daniel H. Cohn, PhD
Professor and Co-Director of International Skeletal Dysplasia Registry
Research interest: Research on the molecular basis and mechanisms of disease in the skeletal dysplasias, and his group has written more than 100 articles on this topic.

Publications >

 

Gay Crooks, MBBS

Gay Crooks, MBBS
Professor
Research Interest: How stem cells produce a new immune system as they develop in the thymus and how this process might be improved and developing ways to make blood and immune cells from human pluripotent stem cells to overcome shortages of matched adult stem cells.

Publications >

Eileen Fowler, PhD
Adjunct Professor and Peter William Chair for the Center for Cerebral Palsy
Research Interest: Focus is in motor disorders due to developmental disabilities and genetics.

Publications >

 

Deborah Krakow, MD
Professor and Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Professor of Human Genetics
Research Interest: The molecular basis of musculoskeletal disorders; Gene expression patterns in the skeleton; Disorders of joint development; Role of cilia in the skeletal dysplasias; and Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

Publications >

 

Pavel Krejci

Pavel Krejci
Assistant Project Scientist
Research focuses on morphogene signaling, receptor tyrosine kinases, regulation of primary cilia, and fibroblast growth factor pathway in disease.  

Publications >

 

Daniel C. Lu, MD, PhD

Daniel C. Lu, MD, PhD
Associate Professor-in-Residence
Research Interest: Modulating the neuronal circuitry and networks in the treatment of central nervous system disorders with the ultimate goal of restoring lost function.

Publications >

 

Sang-Hyun Park, PhD
Adjunct Professor
Research Interest: Use of Laser Doppler Flowmetry to measure the blood flow to a fracture during all phases of healing. Determining the optimal mechanical stimulation to enhance fracture healing and avoid delayed or non-union. Current focus is on metal-on-metal hip joint failure analysis.

Publications >

 

Bruno Peault, PhD
Adjunct Professor
Research Interest: Prospective identification and purification and functional characterization of multi-lineage stem cells present in human adult organs and tissues.

Publications >

 

Sophia Sangiorgio, PhD
Adjunct Professor
Research Interest: Evaluating the biomechanical performance and durability of orthopaedic implants, devices, and surgical procedures, particularly joint reconstruction, fracture fixation, and spine stabilization. Designing custom apparatuses to apply physiological loads and motions to implant-bone constructs to determine how their clinical performance is affected by the design of the implant, and the strength and stability of the fixation.

Publications >

 

Chia Soo, MD
Professor-in-Residence
Research Interest: Interest in bone and skin regenerative medicine research utilizing tissue engineering technologies.

Publications >

 

Yin Tintut, PhD
Adjunct Professor
Research Interest: Mechanisms of inflammation on artery wall calcification, aortic valve calcification and osteoporosis.

Publications >

 

Kanagasabai Vadivel

Kanagasabai Vadivel
Assistant Project Scientist
Research interests focus on understanding the biologic functions of proteins involved in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. 

Publications >

 

Weiguang Wang

Weiguang Wang
Assistant Project Scientist
Defining the molecular mechanisms of cartilage and bone development and discovering the molecular targets for treatment of osteoarthritis.

Publications >

 

Ben Wu, PhD, DDS
Professor
Research Interest: Research focuses on the engineering of material microenvironment to control material-cell interactions.

Publications >

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