Maria Nuñez Presents Summer Research at Columbia SURF Symposium

Maria Nuñez Presents Summer Research at Columbia SURF Symposium

Maria Nuñez presented her summer research titled “Testing the effects of β-estradiol on Canine Chondrocytes and Tissue Engineered Cartilage Constructs” at Columbia’s SURF Symposium.


Maria is advised by graduate student Hagar Kenawy. Nice work, Maria!

Dr. Clark Hung and Matthew Pellicore Publish Review Article in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Dr. Clark Hung and Matthew Pellicore publish review article in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences titled “Biophysical Modulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation in the Context of Skeletal Repair

Abstract: A prominent feature of the skeleton is its ability to remodel in response to biophysical stimuli and to repair under varied biophysical conditions. This allows the skeleton considerable adaptation to meet its physiological roles of stability and movement. Skeletal cells and their mesenchymal precursors exist in a native environment rich with biophysical signals, and they sense and respond to those signals to meet organismal demands of the skeleton. While mechanical strain is the most recognized of the skeletal biophysical stimuli, signaling phenomena also include fluid flow, hydrostatic pressure, shear stress, and ion-movement-related electrokinetic phenomena including, prominently, streaming potentials. Because of the complex interactions of these electromechanical signals, it is difficult to isolate the significance of each. The application of external electrical and electromagnetic fields allows an exploration of the effects of these stimuli on cell differentiation and extra-cellular matrix formation in the absence of mechanical strain. This review takes a distinctly translational approach to mechanistic and preclinical studies of differentiation and skeletal lineage commitment of mesenchymal cells under biophysical stimulation. In vitro studies facilitate the examination of isolated cellular responses while in vivo studies permit the observation of cell differentiation and extracellular matrix synthesis.

Neeraj Sakhrani is Runner-Up at ASME SB3C Paper Competition

Neeraj Sakhrani is Runner-Up at ASME SB3C Paper Competition

Neeraj Sakhrani's poster titled "The Synoviocyte Response To Physiologic Shear Under Culture Conditions Simulating Diabetic Insulin Resistance and Osteoarthritis Joint Inflammation" was a runner-up in the ASME SB3C BS-Level Student Paper Competition.

Congratulations, Neeraj!

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Neeraj Sakhrani Awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Neeraj Sakhrani Awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Neeraj Sakhrani was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship for his project titled "Developing insulin resistant in vitro, mechanistic and machine learning models to optimize feature discovery for predictive engineering of osteoarthritis to type 2 diabetes mellitus.”

Congratulations, Neeraj!

CEL Alumni Highlighted by Columbia BME Department

Lance Murphy, Dr. Terri-Ann Kelly, Kimberly Lipman-White, and Charlie Cai were interviewed by the Columbia BME Department! Check out the interviews below.

Lance Murphy: https://www.bme.columbia.edu/bme-bio-kelsey-gray-kristopher-harris-lance-murphy-darnel-theagene

Dr. Terri-Ann Kelly: https://www.bme.columbia.edu/march-2021-bme-blaze-terri-ann-kelly

Kimberly Lipman-White: https://www.bme.columbia.edu/may-2021-bme-blaze-kimberly-lipman-white

Charlie Cai: https://www.bme.columbia.edu/july-2021-bme-blaze-charlie-cai

Dr. Clark Hung Receives ORS Outstanding Achievement in Mentoring Award

Dr. Clark Hung Receives ORS Outstanding Achievement in Mentoring Award

Congratulations to Dr. Clark Hung on receiving the ORS Outstanding Achievement in Mentoring Award!

This award recognizes Dr. Hung’s exceptional dedication to and success in the mentoring of new investigators in orthopaedic research.

Dr. Hung will be recognized at the ORS Career & Scientific Achievement Awards and Presidential Address on Sunday, February 1, 2021 4 from 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Pacific Time during the ORS 2021 Annual Meeting.

See our Members page for a full list of Dr. Hung’s trainees!

Dr. Clark Hung Selected as ORS 2021 Fellow

Dr. Clark Hung Selected as ORS 2021 Fellow

Dr. Clark Hung was selected as an ORS 2021 Fellow!

ORS Fellows are the longstanding members of the ORS who have demonstrated exemplary service and leadership, substantial achievement, expert knowledge, and significant contributions to the ORS, its Governance, and the field of musculoskeletal research.

Fellows represent ORS as the thought leaders and experts in their respective disciplines. Fellows also serve as role models in the ORS community and in the field of musculoskeletal research.

ORS Fellows will be honored virtually during the Plenary Session to be held Monday, February 15, 2021, 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM (Pacific time) during the ORS 2021 Annual Meeting.

Congratulations to all ORS 2021 Fellows!

Matthew Pellicore Presents Research at BMES 2020

Matthew Pellicore Presents Research at BMES 2020

Matthew Pellicore presented research at the BMES 2020 Annual Meeting. The talk was titled "Immunomodulatory Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields on OA Human Synovium. "

Matthew Pellicore Passes Qualifying Exam

Matthew Pellicore Passes Qualifying Exam

Matthew Pellicore’s Qualifying Exam was titled "Toward understanding the role of exosome-mediated paracrine signaling in the degradation of cartilage in the osteoarthritic joint."

Congratulations, Matt!

Dr. Clark Hung Presents at Tissue Talks

Dr. Clark Hung Presents at Tissue Talks

Dr. Clark Hung presented the lab’s recent research at Tissue Talks hosted by Dr. Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic and the Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering.

The subject of the talk was “The synovium role in joint inflammation and repair.”