Description of Research Expertise

Inflammation.
Inflammation has a profound effect on the connective tissue, causing its resorption and limiting repair of damaged structures. I am interested in how cytokines regulate inflammation and cell death including the activation of transcription factors that globally affect pro-apoptotic gene expression. These studies involve the use of specific inhibitors of apoptosis and cytokines as well as mice with targeted genetic deletions to study their functional role in repair of injured connective tissue and bone.
Diabetes.
Diabetes-associated cytokine dysregulation may represent a common link in a number of diabetic complications including retinopathy and impaired wound healing. A limited ability to repair lost tissue may also represent a mechanism for greater net loss of bone and connective tissue in diabetes-enhanced periodontal disease and impaired fracture healing in diabetics. My laboratory is investigating mechanisms through which these processes are affected by diabetes via altered transcription factor activity and cytokine dysregulation.